Time Traveler From Year 8000 Warns Of Impending Asteroid Apocalypse

March 17, International News Network - A mysterious time traveler who appears to hail from 8000 AD has warned world leaders of an impending asteroid apocalypse. The traveler, identified only as "Timon", approached UN representatives yesterday with news of a massive asteroid that will collide with Earth in the year 2077 if left unintercepted.

"In my time, your era is seen as the last chance for humanity to act before global catastrophe strikes," Timon explained. "Advanced space-based sensors of the future have detected an asteroid one kilometer in diameter on an unavoidable course with Earth."

Timon claims that future history records the year 2077 as the date of global human extinction, with only scattered survivors able to continue civilization in harsh conditions. However, with coordinated action today, the foretold doom may yet be averted.

Several astronomer teams have verified Timon's claims, locating the asteroid "99942 Apophis" currently in a dangerous orbit with a 1 in 45,000 chance of impact in 2077. However, the possibility of a hoax has not been ruled out, as there is no evidence the supposed year 8000 era really exists or that time travel is possible.

"This could be an elaborate prank or psychological experiment, not an actual warning from the future," cautioned physicist Dr. Emma Wu. However, leaders have pledged to accept Timon's warning at face value and mobilize resources to intercept Apophis before it can collide with Earth.

NASA has announced plans for a mission to detonate a nuclear bomb near the asteroid in 2023, shifting its trajectory ahead of the forecast 2077 impact date. Private companies are also developing more targeted kinetic impactors and solar sails as alternative intercept strategies.

Skeptics argue that such drastic action should not be taken on the basis of a single warning, no matter its purported origin or credibility. However, supporters counter that facing global catastrophe, any possibility of success merits attempt. Most leaders agree this issue transcends doubts or debate, as the fate of human existence now hangs in the balance.

The world awaits 2024, when NASA's DART spacecraft will launch to demonstrate its ability to deflect an asteroid's path. If successful, humanity's future may be secured at last against the cosmic threats of old. But until then, the fate of our world remains unwritten.