Russian 'meteor' was actually a tiny asteroid, NASA says (45 feet across, 10,000 tons & 40,000 mph)

The Los Angeles Times ^ | February 16, 2013 | Monte Morin

[left that other site]

Now THAT is interesting.

[left that other site]

“Lucifer’s Hammer” was a TERRIFIC Book!

[cripplecreek]

The far side is whooped. I wonder if that's the result of it always facing outward from the earth.

[SkyPilot]

Russian 'meteor' was actually a tiny asteroid

[isthisnickcool]

That book did more to make me a conservative back in my late teens than anything my parents could have done or said.

Heinlein did the same to me.

[RegulatorCountry]

I’d say it is. Nice how the Moon functions as a sort of mine sweeper in space for the Earth, isn’t it? It protects us to an extent.

[FreedomPoster]

I’ve read all Pournelle’s stuff, and most of Niven’s. And certainly all of their collaborations.

If you haven’t read The Mote in God’s Eye, I highly recommend that as well. Hard science fiction first contact novel.

[BwanaNdege]

About 3500 tons or 7 million lbs.

[BwanaNdege]

Sphere volume = 4/3*pi* radius cubed.

[left that other site]

Yes...I read it a long time ago.

Time to “Refresh”!

[Cringing Negativism Network]

It will be interesting to learn, what sort of minerals are in the meteor.

Is it loaded with goodies?

Or not much? How much burned off, how much is left.

[Joe 6-pack]

Russia composes about 11% of the earth’s land area, so if something does come down randomly on land, there’s better than a 1 in 10 chance it will be in Russia. Russia + Antarctica are about 20% so there’s a 1 in 5 chance it will land in one of the two.

[left that other site]

Well, it DID get mighty HOT!

[winodog]

The moon rotates so both sides have an equal chance of being hit unless I am missing something

[Patriot Babe]

“About 3500 tons or 7 million lbs”

The First Wookie will not be pleased that your mentioning about her weight =)

[hoagy62]

Nope. The Moon is ‘tidally locked’, so it only shows ONE face towards the Earth. The Moon orbits around the Earth, but it does not rotate itself like the Earth does.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Using a plane in this diagram....a deliberate reminder of 9-11??"

They also used a football field in the diagram. Deliberate reminder of Michael Vick? Or Jerry Sandusky? You really ought to save your tinfoil for the next object that falls from space.

[winodog]

After seeing that post I must be missing something. Lots of craters on that side

[BwanaNdege]

Ah, Latin. Mrs Clapper, the terror of a small 8th grade boy. Dick Butkus’ older, bigger, meaner sister!

But I appreciate what little Latin she was able to drum into my little skull full of mush.

Latin is so useful for really understanding English.

e.g. “Companion” is “con(m)” = “with” + “pan” = “bread”
Companion - one with whom you break bread.

[winodog]

Unless that side was facing in the wrong direction when the big bang hit