Meteorite enters atmosphere over Russia

[G.T.Ace]

Watching 2012 DA14 right now: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2
It's a bit like playing Pong.

 

[Dennisch]

The object that caused the Russian fireball, which damaged hundreds of buildings and wounded perhaps 1,000 people in the Chelyabinsk region, was originally probably about 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter and weighed roughly 7,000 tons, said Peter Brown, director of the Center for Planetary Science and Exploration at the University of Western Ontario in Canada.The object was traveling about 40,260 mph (64,800 kph)

No one saw it coming. No one could shoot it down.

Imagine this thing going off above New York or any other skyscraper infested city.
Pieces of glass everywhere.
.

 

[G.T.Ace]

I don't think the glass front of a modern skyscraper will break that fast to be honest, but yes, it would be dangerous and could also lead to a panic.

Similar stuff happened before, where a meteorite almost got confused with a nuke over a US militäry base. I can understand why.

 

[MatskiMonk]

The object was traveling about 40,260 mph (64,800 kph)

40,260 mph? Maybe their radar was just picking up a 2.2 Camry passing by?

 

[PR1VATEJ0KER]

This video is interesting in that it looks like the meteor has come and gone, and there's a seriously late sonic boom(?) that follows @ :27.

Wow that's cool.

Guessing that he managed to start filming 12 seconds after the cloud appeared would mean he was 13,260metres/43,503feet away from the path of the Meteorite.

A pretty close brush with cosmic Death. (wut)

That meteorite would doing mach 5 at least in entry. And the kinetic and chemical energy of a SAM is laughable compared to a meteor this size.

Mach 5 is a conservative estimate too.
These things can enter on average at speeds of 15 to 80km/second (44-235 Mach)
(Source: Meteorite Speed Aficionado Weekly)

 

[CodeRedR51]

Vapor trail from space.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Nice GIF, thanks!

 

[Dan]

GOD DAMN THAT WARNING WAS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH FOR MY DEAD EARS.

I'm wearing these:

http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-GameCom-780-Surround-Headset/dp/B006ZS5ATM

Holy **** dude, OWW

Here's some more awesome footage with the shockwaves:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b70_1360910617

And an awesome Youtube doubler link so you get two perspectives of it at the same time:
http://youtubedoubler.com/?video1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4ZxXYscmgRg&start1=&video2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7c-0iwBEswE%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded&start2=&authorName=FAV

Watch one of TheRumChum's YouTube poops with headphones on. You'll be laughing your a** off and destroying your eardrums at the same time.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Nice GIF, thanks!

Here's another:

 

[Dennisch]

This must be one of the best Fridays ever. EVER.EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

I just can't wrap my head around it how freaking awesome it is.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Impact site.

 

[Dennisch]

I'll bet they will find another 1000 impact craters in the next couple of days.
If only it came down a bit closer to where I am. I would be hunting craters for the next couple of weeks.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

This must be one of the best Fridays ever. EVER.EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

I just can't wrap my head around it how freaking awesome it is.

Me neither. Absolute madness!

 

[Dennisch]

Especially all the videos where the shock wave destroys every window in sight. I'm so glad I am a nerd.

 

[C-ZETA]

So, does this necessarily mean anything bad in the big scheme of things?

I do wonder if this was a coincidence on my part, because in Geography, my class were discussing the possibility of meteorites many many years ago causing mass temperature changes back in the ages of the dinosaurs, killing them off.

 

[Dennisch]

This pebble only means local badness. The one who flew by today could level a complete city if it came down like this one.

 

[G.T.Ace]

So, does this necessarily mean anything bad in the big scheme of things?

I do wonder if this was a coincidence on my part, because in Geography, my class were discussing the possibility of meteorites many many years ago causing mass temperature changes back in the ages of the dinosaurs, killing them off.

Looks like you forgot why the climate changes happened back then.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Unconfirmed reports of another one that entered over Cuba. Obviously video of that one may be harder to come by...

Don't worry, someone in Cuba will draw some pictures in the sand and we'll see photo's of it eventually

 

[Zona]

Well we know what's gonna happen next....

 

[Cano]

Eh, sorry:

 

[Furinkazen]

Sounds like Japanese monster film Gamera 2 to me...

 

[Dennisch]

This is the only obvious answer.

 

[terminator363]

Oh man why couldn't I see something this awesome (except for those injured).

 

[Auraxir]

What is it with Russia and meteorites exploding?

Siberia 1908 a meteorite exploded and leveled a forest.

Tunguska right?

 

[Furinkazen]

FYI by the way I am talking about a Japanese sci fi film from 1997 called Gamera 2 Attack of Legion where a meteorite hits northern Japan and explodes, and dissapears as it is carrying extraterrestrial alien insects. And they refer to Tunguska as well in it.

So next, brace yourself for alien lifeforms!

 

[Auraxir]

let's hope that those weren't the autobots

 

[chug-a-bug]

These things can enter on average at speeds of 15 to 80km/second (44-235 Mach)

According to a russian news agency it was moving at 30km/second. Theres no missile on earth that can travel that fast to intercept it.

It broke into several pieces on entry, one left a 6-metre crater.

Siberia 1908 a meteorite exploded and leveled a forest.

Although a forest was levelled there was no crater and no fragments were ever recovered. Its thought it was a part of a comet that vapourised in the atmosphere.

 

[Keef]

What is it with Russia and meteorites exploding?

Siberia 1908 a meteorite exploded and leveled a forest.

Russia is the biggest country in the world by a lot. Plus it's very wide and covers like 35 times zones...they've got a good chance to get hit at any time of the day.

Although a forest was levelled there was no crater and no fragments were ever recovered. Its thought it was a part of a comet that vapourised in the atmosphere.

Comet being the key word, as they're not all solid rock and aren't nearly as dense as a typical sub-Jupiter asteroid. Otherwise the object probably wouldn't have vaporized or exploded.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Tried to pronounce the Russian word for "blast."

"Vzriv." Nope, not happening.

I heard about this on the news recently. Apparently, I'll be hearing a loud "vzriv" myself, soon.

 

[Grayfox]

This is the only obvious answer.

LoL a nokia 3310 caused all the damage.