Friday 15 February 2013

Close shave with an asteroid tonight

Try to get out and see an asteroid tonight.  You will need to use binoculars or a telescope as the asteroid will not be visible to the naked eye at magnitude 7.  You should see the asteroid moving against the background stars because it is so close to us - closest approach is just 27,700km away at 19.26.  Use the Plough as your guide. Look at the stars in the Plough to judge the position of the asteroid at any given time from 21.00 onwards.  

Meteorite injures 500 in Russia today


A fireball was seen by thousands zooming across the morning sky in Russia. The meteorite hit a zinc factory and 500 people were injured by the explosion and flying glass from buildings in the town of Chelyabinsk.  Drivers caught views of the fireball on their car video cameras.  Spectacular! 



The smoke trail was then followed by the impact on the zinc factory in Chelyabinsk.


Have a look at some video clips of the meteorite on its way to impact Earth:-


See the news cast from Russia Today:-