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Well now you might just be able to find out, with the release of an updated version of the ‘Impact Earth’ calculator.

The interactive web programme was created by scientists at Purdue University and Imperial College London, and allows users to enter details about the hypothetical asteroid impactor, such as diameter and density. The web programme then estimates the scale of the hypothetical disaster and returns details such as the likely size and depth of the resultant crater, safe distance from the impact zone to avoid damaging after effects and so forth.

As well as being an entertaining programme to use, Impact Earth is also a very important reference tool, as it enables users to calculate further details such as the tsunami wave height should there be an ocean-based impact; a danger about which we have become even more acutely aware in recent times.

One of the programme’s creators, Professor Jay Melosh of Purdue University described how: “The site is intended for a broad global audience because an impact is an inevitable aspect of life on this planet and literally everyone on Earth should be interested. There have been big impacts in the past, and we expect big impacts in the future. This site gives the lowdown on what happens when such an impact occurs."

For further teaching resources related to asteroid impacts why not download the ‘Collision Course’ resource produced by ASE which is available from the National STEM Centre eLibrary.