The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Let’s talk about the big scary asteroid that’s NOT going to hit Earth

By
January 21, 2018 at 1:45 p.m. EST
A rendering of asteroid 2012 DA14 in 2013, which came within 17,000 miles of Earth but didn’t kill us all. The next one won’t, either. (AP/NASA/JPL-Caltech)

An asteroid larger than any skyscraper yet built is hurtling toward Earth, the Daily Mail informs. If it hits on Feb. 4, the paper continues, scientists predict a decade of cold and darkness, skies choked with soot, and misery across the planet.

Between these paragraphs, the Mail inserts occasional reminders that asteroid 2002 AJ129 will not hit Earth, according to NASA.