Meteor Strike Aftermath

After the massive strike of the meteorite last month, Russian officials, volunteers and scientists from all over the world had gathered at the crash site. The purpose for such a massive search was to gather the fragments of the meteorite while also obtaining data and closure to the residents of Chelyabinsk. 

Over 100 pieces have been discovered after nearly combing and excavating 50 km (31 miles) of the area including Lake Chebarkul & Ural Mountains. Along with recent videos, photographs and infrasound readings, they have been able to determine and evaluate more information on the meteorite itself.

Here are the following updates:

- Russian experts at Ural Federal University have determined the meteorite to be a common space rock called Chondrite. The meteorite had traces of pyroxene, olivine, troilite, kamacite & taenite.

- The meteorite had spent approximately 4.5 billion years in space before it hit the Earth's surface.

- Colombian astronomers have been able to map out the trajectory of the meteorite thanks to the mapping of the fragments and videos taken by the locals.

- NASA physicist, Peter Brown, had calculated the meteorite to be:
+17.0 meters wide
+Weighed 10,000 metric tons
+Came at the Earth in a velocity of 64,373.8 km/h (40,000 mph)
+Broke apart 19.3 to 24.1 km (12 to 15 miles) from the Earth
+The energy of the explosion was 470 kilotons of TNT

- The largest piece discovered weighed at 9.8 kgs (22lbs).

This is the biggest recorded meteorite since the 1908 Tunguska Event.


The photo is an artist's rendition of the unnamed meteor entering into the Earth’s atmosphere.

Photo source: ShutterStock

Sources:
- http://1.usa.gov/160MajZ
- http://on.doi.gov/YMaKjb
- http://bit.ly/X9UjO7
- http://huff.to/VX74fD
- http://bit.ly/12bgHMF

Check out our previous posts on the meteorite at:
http://on.fb.me/WB1T2m
http://on.fb.me/XABFza
http://on.fb.me/XIi0dx
http://on.fb.me/YMlfTV