Posted on 09/07/2014 10:25:59 PM PDT by blam
AFP
ASeptember 8, 2014
Managua (AFP) - A mysterious explosion that rocked Nicaragua's crowded capital Managua, creating a large crater, appears to have been caused by a small meteorite, officials said Sunday.
Amazingly, in a sprawling city of 1.2 million people, the impact near the international airport did not cause any known injuries, but it did leave a crater measuring 12 meters (39 feet) across and was felt throughout the capital late on Saturday.
Nicaraguan authorities believe it was a piece of the small asteroid dubbed "2014 RC," which passed very close to Earth on Sunday and was estimated by astronomers to be about 20 meters big, or the size of a house.
"We are convinced that this was a meteorite. We have seen the crater from the impact," said Wilfredo Strauss of the Seismic Institute.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
If it was as big as a house when it hit, it would have left a somewhat larger crater.
Maybe the size of a basketball when it hit, probably smaller.
No kidding. A 500lb GP bomb would do about that much cratering.
Article says it was “a piece.” Presumably, it broke up on entry and the Managua strike was one of the fragments.
No, they’re saying the main asteroid that it broke off of was the size of a house. This thing was probably pretty small, like basketball or lesser size.
If it was as big as a house when it hit, it would have left a somewhat larger crater.
No kidding. A 500lb GP bomb would do about that much cratering.
“BLAM!” (LOL!)
I think the piece that flew on by was as big as a house. (I think that's what's being said)
Coincidentally, an elderly couple living near the impact crater have reportedly just adopted a baby boy, but remain tight-lipped about the adoption process.
Just saw the “piece of asteroid” in the story. Always best to post before reading the entire story. :)
That was the spot that Jamie from MythBusters landed on. he is on vacation in the country.
Super!
So if this happened on my property, would the goobermint come in and claim the meteorite?
OK, of course they would.
I’d like something stronger than “Nicaraguan authorities” before accepting that any bit of a tracked 60 foot asteroid was 25000 miles of course. There are lots of other meteors up there. For that matter are we sure this wasn’t one of Obama’s friends herding new voters his way.
We will need the Kents’ boy to fight all the Undead (”zombies”) that rise out of their graves following passage through our atmosphere of meteorites.
Of course these will be Neekarawgwan Undead, wandering about and crisply enunciating the vowels in their moans and groans.
One thing that worries scientists is a small meteor—maybe 15-20 feet wide—that survives most of the entry into the Earth’s atmosphere then suddenly explodes a few thousand feet above the ground. Such an explosion could result in a blast with the equivalent explosive yield of several thousand tons of TNT and could cause tremendous damage in the unlikely chance it explodes of a city.
That sounds like the Tungusku scenario. If a small chunk hit Nicaragua, it could have been a small companion to the larger asteroid that gravity pulled away. I’m surprised no light streak was reported.
Lol !!!
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