NASA asteroid SHOCK: Scientist’s ‘absolutely CERTAIN’ claim over Earth strike REVEALED

“It could be in five years time, it could be in five thousand, or even five million.”

Mr Zarnecki, who is a former Professor of Space Science at the Open University, urged more research to be put into defending the planet.

He added: “We just have to look around us in the solar system at objects like the moon, hammered with impact craters. 

“On the astronomical timescale, these happen relatively frequently.