Dear Steve,

That was amazingly powerful for something they initially was reported as the size of two vans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfA2hcf7k7c
I read that lots of Russians have cameras on the front of their cars to protect against insurance scams -- that is why we ended up with so much footage.

After seeing all that snow on the ground I looked up the weather temp in Chelyabinsk:
Sunday high: 21 degrees F
Sunday low: 12 degrees F

I appreciate the stories about the people who witnessed the event:

Mari

Thank you Mari. What a meteor to Earths atmospheric impact,and shock wave event. Those explosions from the meteors shock wave are incredible. BF

Hi,

Here is a picture of the Russian Meteor two weeks ago.
It was taken by a photographer who was getting pictures of the snow.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130223.html
Explanation: A meteoroid fell to Earth on February 15, streaking some 20 to 30 kilometers above the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia at 9:20am local time. Initially traveling at about 20 kilometers per second, its explosive deceleration after impact with the lower atmosphere created a flash brighter than the Sun.

This picture of the brilliant bolide (and others of its persistent trail) was captured by photographer Marat Ametvaleev, surprised during his morning sunrise session creating panoramic images of the nearby frosty landscape.

An estimated 500 kilotons of energy was released by the explosion of the 17 meter wide space rock with a mass of 7,000 to 10,000 tons. Actually expected to occur on average once every 100 years, the magnitude of the Chelyabinsk event is the largest known since the Tunguska impact in 1908.

Chelyabinsk Meteor Flash 2013 February 15

Hi,

Here is a picture of the Russian Meteor two weeks ago.
It was taken by a photographer who was in place getting pictures of the snow.

Mari
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130223.html



Explanation: A meteoroid fell to Earth on February 15, streaking some 20 to 30 kilometers above the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia at 9:20am local time. Initially traveling at about 20 kilometers per second, its explosive deceleration after impact with the lower atmosphere created a flash brighter than the Sun.
This picture of the brilliant bolide (and others of its persistent trail) was captured by photographer Marat Ametvaleev, surprised during his morning sunrise session creating panoramic images of the nearby frosty landscape.

An estimated 500 kilotons of energy was released by the explosion of the 17 meter wide space rock with a mass of 7,000 to 10,000 tons. Actually expected to occur on average once every 100 years, the magnitude of the Chelyabinsk event is the largest known since the Tunguska impact in 1908.

what a great picture thanks for sharing!
bizi

Thank you all for posting all these great pictures. I am very much astounded at what comes up. In 2029, there will be another pass with a meteor. Don't know the name of it, but they will be taking a hard look at it. The pass after that is going to be somewhat of a close call. I think they are going to send a rocket up to it, to see if we can do it. All this space watching may save our planet someday. Bless the scientists I think this universe we live in is absolutely amazing. ginnie

Hi Ginnie. That would be the asteroid 99942 Apophis. It will pass close to the Earth in 2029,and 2036. In 2036 it has a 1 in 140,000,000 chance of impacting Earths atmosphere.

By then we will have spacecrafts able to use gravity to slowly pull the asteroid off course. BF

They have physicist's working on solutions right now. A mission like this could take five years. A spacecraft could use ion propulsion,and cause a gravity tug to keep the asteroid from the Earths orbit,and then beyond using different phases of technology to stop the threat of a asteroid,or comet from hitting Earth. There are a variety of theories that they are working on,and Princeton University is keeping up with it. BF

Yes, that is the one I was talking about. I watch Nova and the science channel all the time. I am a nut on physics, and watch "Through the wormhole with morgan feeman " as much as possible. also numerous books to understand this big old universe we live in.
Yep, I think we are going to send up a rocket. Do we have the ion form of fuel yet? Isn't that a slow release on that gradually picks up speed????
It is all facinating to me. I am so glad you like it too and keep up with things. I go to all the major sites that have telescope updates too. The Keplar in Hi. and that site is my favorite.
Keep talking space and physics, I am like a bee to the honey with that. Why at 61 years old would I start thinking about science like this? I hated it in HS, now all of a sudden I have this deep interest. Keep posting BF. I am thinking about you always during your grief too. I distract myself by reading books way over my head. Some is actually sinking in to this old brain, including the higgs field...I understand it... weird!!!! take care BF, ginnie

Yes. They are used for station keeping on communication satellites,and for main propulsion on deep space probes.

It's the propulsion of choice for scientists,and engineers at NASA.

The ion propulsion system's efficient use of fuel,and electric power enable modern spacecraft to travel farther,faster,and cheaper than any other propulsion technology currently available.

Plasma consists of ions. Ion engine with a nuclear reactor has slight acceleration. A Ion thruster is a form of electric propulsion. It creates thrust by accelerating ions.(Plasma) Thank you for the question. I did a little research. BF