Asteroids remain one of the biggest threats to life on Earth, as is evident by the dinosaur-extinction event 66 million years ago. While the chances of an asteroid hitting are low, it is and will always remain a possibility.
NASA has revealed the chances of an asteroid hitting Earth, and the space agency reiterates the fact that it is always a risk.
The space agency stated the chances of an asteroid big enough to destroy a city is 0.1 percent in any given year.
However, if one of these rocks were to be on a collision course with Earth, the likelihood is that it will hit water, with NASA stating it is 70 percent more likely to hit water than land.
Even if it does hit land, according to the space agency, there is a 20 percent chance it will hit an unpopulated area.
The asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs around 66 million years ago was believed to be up to 16 kilometres wide.
Previous research from the University of Berkley, California, believes there is evidence to suggest that non-avian dinosaurs survived around 30,000 years afterwards, and they eventually went extinct due to the 100,000 years of drastic climate change caused by the impact.
Others, however, believe the beasts died out in a matter of months.
Palaeontologist Ken Lacovara previously said: “They died suddenly and were buried quickly.
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However, the space agency moved to reassure frightened minds, stating it is not predicting a major asteroid strike of that size for several centuries.
The space boffins said: “NASA knows of no asteroid or comet currently on a collision course with Earth, so the probability of a major collision is quite small.
“In fact, as best as we can tell, no large object is likely to strike the Earth any time in the next several hundred years.”
NASA has made great strides in discovering near-Earth objects that are over one kilometre in size, with 90 percent now accounted for.
However, this means there are still 10 percent of dangerous asteroids which have not been spotted.