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A huge, surprise meteoroid entered the Earth's atmosphere over Russia early this morning, about 900 miles east of Moscow. The Russian Academy of Sciences said in a statement that the meteor over the Chelyabinsk region entered the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of at least 54,000 kph (33,000 mph) and shattered about 30-50 kilometers (18-32 miles) above ground.
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Over 700 people have reported injury so far, emergency officials in Russia said. The shockwave resulted in shattered glass over 100 miles away, flying objects, some structural damages, and loss of phone signals during the event.
Video from a car-mounted camera below shows a fiery object speeding across the sky about 9:20 a.m. local time, leaving a thick white trail and ending with a large explosion.
The meteor came less than a day before the asteroid 2012 DA14 is to make the closest recorded pass of an asteroid — about 17,150 miles. But the European Space Agency, in a post on its Twitter account, said its experts had determined there was no connection.
ESA experts at #ESOC confirm *no* link between #meteor incidents in #Russia & #Asteroid #2012DA14 Earth flyby tonite #SSA #NEO
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) February 15, 2013Advertisement
Nonetheless, the close timing of these events is causing some leaders to suggest world governments need to find a solution for handling dangerous near-earth objects in the future.
