Russian Meteor: Fragments Found; NASA Revises Estimates; UN Action?

Russian Meteor: Scientists Say Meteor Pieces Found Near Frozen Lake

Meteor Scramble: Hunt Begins for Pricey Space Rocks

By KIRIT RADIA (@KiritRadia_ABC) 

CHEBARKUL, Russia, Feb. 17, 2013

Scientists confirmed today the first recovered fragments of the giant meteor that exploded over this region on Friday, according to Russian media.

The fragments were found on the edge of a giant hole in a frozen lake in this tiny village, thought to have been created when a sizable chunk space rock came crashing down, RIA Novosti reported.

More - Link >>> http://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-meteor-scientists-meteor-pieces-found-frozen-lake/story?id=18525443

Source: ABC News

Russian Meteor Blast Bigger Than Thought, NASA Says

by Tariq Malik, SPACE.com Managing Editor

Date: 16 February 2013 Time: 06:30 PM ET

inShare1

This video screenshot shows the fireball from a meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Feb. 15, 2013, creating a shockwave that shattered windows and injured more than 1,000 people. CREDIT: Russia Today View full size image

The meteor that exploded over Russia Friday was slightly larger than previously thought and more powerful, too, NASA scientists say.

The Russian meteor explosion over the city of Chelyabinsk, on Friday (Feb. 15), injured more than 1,000 people and blew out windows across the region in a massive blast captured on cameras by frightened witnesses. Friday afternoon, NASA scientists estimated the meteor was space rock about 50 feet (15 meters) and sparked a blast equivalent of a 300-kiloton explosion. The energy estimate was later increased to 470 kilotons.

More - Link >>> http://www.space.com/19838-russian-meteor-blast-bigger-size.html

Source: Space.com .

United Nations Reviewing Asteroid Impact Threat

by Leonard David, SPACE.com’s Space Insider Columnist

Date: 17 February 2013 Time: 09:34 AM ET

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This video screenshot shows the fireball from a meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Feb. 15, 2013, creating a shockwave that shattered windows and injured more than 1,000 people. CREDIT: Russia Today View full size image

The Russian fireball and the close flyby of the asteroid 2012 DA14 on Friday (Feb. 15) came at a moment in time when the United Nations is discussing international response to the near-Earth object impact concern.

Detailed discussions about the Russian meteor explosion and Earth's encounter with asteroid 2012 DA14 were high on the Feb. 15 agenda of Action Team-14 during the 50th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), being held from Feb. 11 to 22 at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna.

The multi-year work of Action Team-14 (AT-14) is focused on pushing forward on an international response to the impact threat of asteroids and other near-Earth objects (NEOs).

More - Link >>> http://www.space.com/19840-asteroid-impact-threat-united-nations.html

Source: Space.com .
 

Ancient asteroid strike in Australia "changed face of earth"

By Michael Sin

SYDNEY | Fri Feb 15, 2013 5:34am EST
 

(Reuters) - A strike from a big asteroid more than 300 million years ago left a huge impact zone buried in Australia and changed the face of the earth, researchers said on Friday.

"The dust and greenhouse gases released from the crater, the seismic shock and the initial fireball would have incinerated large parts of the earth," said Andrew Glikson, a visiting fellow at the Australian National University.

More - Link >>> http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/uk-science-asteroid-australia-idUSLNE91E00J20130215

Source: Reuters News Wire Service.

Related Blog Posts --

Meteor Fall Recovery Begins in Russia (2013 Feb. 16):

 Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2013/02/meteor-fall-recovery-begins-in-russia.html

Asteroid Buzzes Earth in Record-Breaking Flyby (2013 Feb. 15):

Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2013/02/asteroid-buzzes-earth-in-record.html

Meteorite Hits Central Russia, 500+ People Hurt  (2013 Feb. 15):

Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2013/02/meteorite-hits-central-russia-500.html

 

Space Miners: Earth-Buzzing Asteroid May Be Worth $195 Billion (2013 Feb. 13):

Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2013/02/space-miners-earth-buzzing-asteroid-may.html

 

Feb. 15: Close Earth Flyby of Large Asteroid (2013 Feb. 4):

Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2013/02/feb-15-close-earth-flyby-of-large.html

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