Data shows increased frequency of asteroid impacts
Posted: Thu, Apr 24, 2014, 6:58 AM ET (1058 GMT)
The frequency of "city killer" asteroids striking the Earth is much higher than previously thought, according to data released this week by an organization seeking to develop a space telescope to look for such objects. The data, collected from 2001 through 2003 by a network of infrasound sensors created to monitor nuclear tests, indicated that there were 26 explosions in the upper atmosphere with energies of between 1 and 600 kilotons of TNT. Those explosions, scientists sats, were caused by small asteroids disintegrating in the upper atmosphere. The best known of these events is the Chelyabinsk meteor of February 2013, which injured more than 1,000 people; none of the other events caused damage or injuries. None of those asteroids were detected prior to those explosions. The data, collected by previously published by scientists, was released by the B612 Foundation, which is looking to raise money for its Sentinel space telescope, a philanthropically-funded mission to search for near Earth asteroids that could pose an impact risk to the Earth.
The frequency of "city killer" asteroids striking the Earth is much higher than previously thought, according to data released this week by an organization seeking to develop a space telescope to look for such objects. The data, collected from 2001 through 2003 by a network of infrasound sensors created to monitor nuclear tests, indicated that there were 26 explosions in the upper atmosphere with energies of between 1 and 600 kilotons of TNT. Those explosions, scientists sats, were caused by small asteroids disintegrating in the upper atmosphere. The best known of these events is the Chelyabinsk meteor of February 2013, which injured more than 1,000 people; none of the other events caused damage or injuries. None of those asteroids were detected prior to those explosions. The data, collected by previously published by scientists, was released by the B612 Foundation, which is looking to raise money for its Sentinel space telescope, a philanthropically-funded mission to search for near Earth asteroids that could pose an impact risk to the Earth.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Blue Origin describes plans for increased New Glenn launch rates
Posted: Sat, Oct 17 11:41 AM ET (1541 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, October 20
A Mars-velous decade: Celebrating ten years of TGO
ESA — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) How US Satellites Became Crucial to Ukraine’s Defense
Bloomberg News — 5:26 am ET (0926 GMT) How to stop Putin’s missiles before they even leave Russia
Washington Post — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) Fire at Starlink Center in Lithuania Was Sabotage, Officials Say
New York Times — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) Space Forces Central Poised for ‘Fivefold’ Growth in Coming Years
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 5:22 am ET (0922 GMT) |
