Approximately 2.5 million years ago, it is believed that an asteroid detonated over Antarctica. The Earth and other rocky celestial bodies are covered with noticeable craters caused by direct asteroid or comet impacts. However, there are instances when an incoming object disintegrates in the air before reaching the surface, leaving little evidence in the geological record. Despite this, these events can be incredibly destructive, releasing energy in the form of shock waves and thermal radiation. For example, in 2013, a 20-meter asteroid disintegrated high over Chelyabinsk, Russia, shattering thousands of windows upon impact. Similarly, in 1908, an even more catastrophic airburst occurred over Tunguska, Siberia, flattening over 2,000 square kilometers of forest.
2024-02-05 10:00:00
Source from www.sciencenews.org
