Space Sciences What they've learned about the Russian meteor

[Calliegirl]

This is amazing....

After the massive strike of the meteorite last month, Russian officials, volunteers and scientists from all over the world had gathered at the crash site. The purpose for such a massive search was to gather the fragments of the meteorite while also obtaining data and closure to the residents of Chelyabinsk.

Over 100 pieces have been discovered after nearly combing and excavating 50 km (31 miles) of the area including Lake Chebarkul & Ural Mountains. Along with recent videos, photographs and infrasound readings, they have been able to determine and evaluate more information on the meteorite itself.

Here are the following updates:

- Russian experts at Ural Federal University have determined the meteorite to be a common space rock called Chondrite. The meteorite had traces of pyroxene, olivine, troilite, kamacite & taenite.

- The meteorite had spent approximately 4.5 billion years in space before it hit the Earth's surface.

- Colombian astronomers have been able to map out the trajectory of the meteorite thanks to the mapping of the fragments and videos taken by the locals.

- NASA physicist, Peter Brown, had calculated the meteorite to be:
+17.0 meters wide
+Weighed 10,000 metric tons
+Came at the Earth in a velocity of 64,373.8 km/h (40,000 mph)
+Broke apart 19.3 to 24.1 km (12 to 15 miles) from the Earth
+The energy of the explosion was 470 kilotons of TNT

- The largest piece discovered weighed at 9.8 kgs (22lbs).

This is the biggest recorded meteorite since the 1908 Tunguska Event.

~ era

Sources:
- http://1.usa.gov/160MajZ
- http://on.doi.gov/YMaKjb
- http://bit.ly/X9UjO7
- http://huff.to/VX74fD
- http://bit.ly/12bgHMF

Check out our previous posts on the meteorite at:
http://on.fb.me/WB1T2m
http://on.fb.me/XABFza
http://on.fb.me/XIi0dx
http://on.fb.me/YMlfTV

This is the infrasound of the meteor sped up 135x to be in our hearing range:

Artist's rendition of the Russian meteor entering into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Photo source: ShutterStock

 

[Tom L.]

This is the first time I've actually watched video of the meteor, although I knew about the Tunguska incident about a century ago. The world should take heed of this wake-up call.

 

[ledboots]

This is the first time I've actually watched video of the meteor, although I knew about the Tunguska incident about a century ago. The world should take heed of this wake-up call.

Not like there is anything we can do about meteors, though.

 

[Tom L.]

Good point... the article said this thing was only 17 meters wide, which probably isn't something they would have been able to pick up with current technology. And it was coming in fast.

 

[ledboots]

Good point... the article said this thing was only 17 meters wide, which probably isn't something they would have been able to pick up with current technology. And it was coming in fast.

Now if we had Bruce Willis with a nuke...