On February 6, a fireball was detected when it disintegrated in the atmosphere at about 31 km above the South Atlantic, about 1,000 km off the Brazilian coast. It might have gone unnoticed if it were not because it released energy of 13,000 tons of TNT, similar to the Hiroshima bomb, becoming the largest meteor recorded since three years ago the explosion of the Chelyabinsk region (Russia) occurs, which shock wave caused more than a thousand wounded.
The Earth is used to fit blows. Since its inception, it has received numerous impacts. One of those who have had more dire consequences occurred about 65 million years ago when a rock just 10 km long wiped out the dinosaurs. But events and, fortunately, only a hundred million years occur. However, smaller objects reach the atmosphere from space in a much more frequent basis. Most or we learned, but some, like Chelyabinks, leave their mark.
Although 13,000 tons of TNT are impressive, are not comparable to the 600,000 rock Chelyabinks, about 30 times greater, which he shattered windows, toppled walls and sent 1,200 people to hospital. Of course, if it had fallen on Brazilian soil, could have caused considerable damage.
75% of large asteroids, those of more than one kilometer capable of causing a global catastrophe, are located and none of them It has a dangerous orbit. Those who know are not large enough to be detected if they try to approach. However, the smaller are difficult to detect and appear by surprise. A rock just 7 meters wide with an average density can cause an explosion of 4,000 tons of TNT in the atmosphere. For this reason, researchers are striving to strengthen the detection and warning of the need to develop prevention measures
Source:. Abc.es
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