Facts about the Russian asteroid blast

Russian asteroid blast happens Feb. 15

5 amazing facts about the Russian asteroid  February 15, 2013 blast

Fact No 1: The asteroid is known as 2012 DA14. Researchers have already plotted this 150-foot space rock’s trajectory. Its closest pass to earth ever is pictured here. Researchers say when the asteroid flies by Earth, the planet’s gravity will force the asteroid into a new orbit that won’t bring it this close to the Earth for years to come.

Fact No. 2: Asteroids like 2012 DA14 have hit earth before.

This asteroid would probably react similarly like the “Tunguska Event” over Siberia in 1908 , exploding above the ground and causing destruction over a wide area, but not endangering human civilization, said the researchers.

Fact No. 3: Asteroid 2012 DA14 was discovered by amateur astronomers.

It was about 2.7 million miles away from earth when a team of amateur astronomers affiliated with the La Sagra Sky Survey at the Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca in southern Spain discovered it on February 23, 2012. NASA and other scientists track its path to sure it posed no threat to the planet.

Fact No. 4: Its closest approach point will be over Sumatra

On Friday, when it approaches within 17,200 miles of Earth, it will be over Sumatra, Indonesia at its closest point while zipping by the planet.

At its closest approach on Friday at 2:24 p.m. EST, the asteroid will be 5,000 miles closer to Earth, the planet are still safe from impact, researchers say.

Fact No. 5: Asteroids like 2012 DA14 fly by Earth every 40 years

Based on a statistical analysis, NASA researchers have found that asteroids like 2012 DA14 only graze Earth this closely once every 40 years or so. Similar asteroids can actually hit the Earth once every 1,200 years.

Related pictures available here.

Source: Asteroid 2012 DA14: …

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 1908 Tunguska Event

Tunguska blast 1908

Vicki Phipps reported something about the Tunguska event.  It was June 30, 1908 and at exactly 7:17 a.m. when a huge explosion shook the earth from several miles in the air above the Tunguska region of Siberia.  It has the force of a large nuclear bomb and was probably a small asteroid …Those who witnessed it from hundred of miles away reported it was brighter than the sun and even at that distance, the shock waves knocked people off their feet.  The explosion destroyed more than 60 million trees, but luckily it was such a remote area that only a few lives were lost.

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Russia’s February 15, 2013 asteroid blast

With flashing lights and a booming shock wave, a meteor blazed across the sky over Russia’s Ural Mountains region Friday, February 15 and exploded with the force of an atomic bomb, injuring more than 1,000 people as it blasted out windows and spread panic in a city of 1 million, the HuffingtonPost.com reported

ABCnews.go.com said NASA scientists have estimated the force of the blast that occurred when the meteor fractured upon entering Earth’s atmosphere was approximately 470 kilotons — the equivalent of about 30 Hiroshima bombs, but it did not cause major damage because it occurred so high in the atmosphere.

Asteroid fly by earth happens Feb 15

 

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