Could we use a nuclear weapon to destroy an asteroid?

An asteroid larger than 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) in diameter is considered "extinction class," or powerful enough to destroy life on Earth if it collides with our hapless ... So while yes, a nuclear bomb could be used to blow up a small asteroid, it's unlikely that world leaders would waste expensive resources on that endeavor. read more

The idea of using nuclear weapons would not be to destroy an asteroid, but to deflect it, subtly altering its orbit, while it is still distant, so that it would no longer be on a collision course with Earth. The preference would be to detonate the bomb near the asteroid, not to actually hit it. read more

Technically, a nuclear bomb could obliterate a smaller asteroid, but it's not these smaller entities that pose a threat to Earth's safety. The asteroids that would be really worrisome -- those larger than 1,312 feet (400 meters) -- wouldn't be easily wiped out by such a bomb. read more