DON’T panic, Scotland has a pretty good relationship with space.
IF you believe some conspiracy theorists then a ‘doomsday space rock’ will destroy planet Earth later this month.
Today NASA confirmed that a rather large asteroid is heading our way – but says it will pass by quite safely.
The Space Agency has spent the past few months trying to combat claims that a meteor will wipe out humanity at some point this month.
Now it has confirmed the 270-metre Asteroid 2012 TT5 will speed past the planet today and insisted we will live to fight another day.
Asteroid 2012 TT5 will safely pass Earth tomorrow by about 5 million miles/8 million km or 21.5 LD (lunar distances). It poses no threat.
— Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) September 23, 2015
Despite NASA’s reassuring words, conspiracy theorists claim humanity’s final hours could come between 22 and 28 September.
However, Nasa has given us the all-clear.
A spokesperson 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.”
Imaginative conspiracy theorists have also claimed the Large Hadron Collider could attract a giant asteroid towards Earth.
They are worried the particle physics experiment could send out a massive magnetic field that could draw a massive asteroid to the planet with devastating consequences.
Scientists operating the experiment 75 metres under the French-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland, insist it is impossible.
Scotland is one of the best places in the world to witness the sky at night.
The Galloway Forest Park only missed out on the number one spot to Flagstaff in Arizona, USA, in a poll conducted by top American travel firm Shermans.
They described Galloway Forest as offering “great viewing areas and information points” and also singled out Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre in Dumfries and Galloway, as the best place to see deepest into space.
More than 7,000 stars and planets are visible with the naked eye from the park.
Remote parts of Scotland have low light pollution, which means you will certainly be able to find a few places that are perfect for viewing the night sky.
No telescope? No problem. Experts say it’s best to start with a full view of the night sky.
Scotland’s national parks offer stunning views, though darkest in winter, are still spectacular on warmer nights.
Unfortunately more than 80 per cent of the UK population will never actually experience a totally dark sky.
However, thanks to our high quality skies, millions of tourists are flocking to Scotland every year to enjoy them.
As many of Britain’s 10,000 amateur astronomers and stargazers believe this is the best time of year to capture photographs, perhaps our gallery above will inspire you to pick up a camera and capture Scotland’s night sky at its finest.