As if we did n’t have enough to concern about on Earth we also have the constant threat of things in outer space that could destroy us .

Asteroids

Though there is evidence that huge basaltic volcanism chip in to the downfall of the dinosaur as much as the asteroid encroachment , a massive asteroid hit Earth would certainly ruin most people ’s days . The aim that created the Chicxulub Crater about 65 million yr ago was 170 - 300 kilometer across .   This contributed ( or was the main cause ) of the K - PG extinction event , when all non - avian dinosaurs as well as some three - quarters of plant and animate being species   on Earth   were made nonextant . as luck would have it , NASA has theNEO(Near - Earth Object )   program , which uses a multifariousness of imagination to hunt and place Near - Earth objective . If any such prominent asteroid were to make a airless - call , we would hopefully know about it in plenty of fourth dimension .

Rogue comets

Though many comets in our solar system have had their trajectories mapped there is still the opportunity that a collision or a gravitational tug could ship an asteroid or a comet on its way to the Sun in a much more elliptical compass . This could place the comet on a flight with Earth . Fortunately , the Near - Earth - Object computer program listed above also keeps its centre on perverse comet . Jupiter ’s impregnable gravity also acts as a gravity well , suck in rogues and other object towards it and away from the mundane planets .

A da Gamma ray burst

late researchsuggests a nearby gamma ray flare-up may have been creditworthy an vivid blast of high - vitality irradiation that hit the Earth in the 8th C .   The evidence comes from the detection of high levels of the isotope Carbon-14 and Beryllium-10 in tree rings formed in 775 CE , which evoke a burst of radioactivity struck the Earth in the year 774 or 775 . the researchers suggested that two prima remnant ( dark holes , neutron virtuoso or white-hot dwarfs ) collide and merged . Energy is released from such a collision in the form of a burst of gamma ray that typically last less than two seconds . The da Gamma irradiation salvo was about 3,000 to 12,000 scant - twelvemonth aside .

Though a Vasco da Gamma ray burst sound spectacular , our medieval ascendant may not have point out much difference . A gamma beam burst at that space means the radiation was absorbed by our standard atmosphere , only leave a touch in the isotopes that eventually found their elbow room into our trees and the sparkler . Though gamma shaft of light bursts are rare , if another explosion happened at the same distance as the eighth Century event , it could knock out our satellites . If such an event occurred even nigher , then it would put down our ozone layer , with annihilating effects for life history on Earth .

Solar Flares

In 1859 , the ‘ Carrington event ’ was a monumental solar flash that sent a swarm of charge particles that struck Earth . This created massive stream in the Earth ’s charismatic field and send aurora borealis as far south asCubaandHawaii . Back then , about the only electrical thing was the telegraph electronic connection – the Carrington event did cause follow operators to be literally shocked . Should such a monolithic solar flare hap again in our vastly more technologically innovative age , the results would be ruinous . The disruption would likely kill a lot of people , peculiarly those that trust on medical equipment . More would die when food supplies and clean water became scarce . A small flare wipe out Hydro Quebec ’s grid in 1989 , which left many Canadians without power for an extensive period . NASA and other space agenciesaround the world have committed many resources to the monitoring of solar flares ; there are spacecraft such as theSolar Dynamics Observatory(SDO ) as well asSOHO , Hinode , STEREOandACEmonitoring the Sun and gathering data on flares .