Rare Asteroid To Collide With Earth?

By analyzing sunlight reflected from its surface, scientists say the asteroid Apophis -- which has a slight chance of colliding with Earth -- is a good match for a rare type of stony meteorite known as type LL chondrite. Meteorites with this mineral composition represent just 7 percent of the known space rocks that plunge to Earth. The finding, presented last week at an annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, could be useful in planning future missions to explore Apophis or in protecting Earth from a future impact.