Meteorites on Earth

On February 15, 2013, a meteorite exploded over the Ural Mountains of Russia. The Chelyabinsk Meteor was estimated to be 49 feet wide and weigh 10 tons. Before crashing into Earth, it was traveling at over 41,000 miles per hour. That is nearly 60 times the speed of sound. The meteorite entered Earth’s atmosphere at a great speed and shallow entry. It exploded in the air at a height of 76,000 feet, which is over 14 miles. The blast was 20 to 30 times stronger than the atomic bomb used in World War II. It was brighter than the sun.

More than one thousand people were injured as a result of debris from sonic waves caused by the explosion. More than one million square feet of building glass shattered. Some meteorite fragments fell in a reservoir outside the town of Chebarkul, but no people were struck by the meteorite or fragments. The crash left a 26-foot-wide crater in the ice.

How many meteors strike the Earth? No one knows how many impacts have occurred over time, but more and more recordings are being made. The Meteoritical Society and other agencies track meteorites that strike Earth’s surface. At least two impacts were recorded for 2012.

A major impact event is one that could cause the end of civilization. Some scientists believe that 65 million years ago, meteor strikes were the primary cause of the extinction of dinosaurs. This violent event is now known as the Late Heavy Bombardment.

Every year, NASA publishes dates when meteor showers are visible. Meteors become meteorites when they impact Earth, which happens rarely.