The lack of an impact crater and identifiable meteorite debris has long puzzled researchers, leading to an ice comet becoming a favored explanation for a time. Yet simulations eventually showed that to be implausible because the comet would not have survived atmospheric entry long enough to generate the observed destruction at ground level.
Eventually, if the asteroid is still in orbit around the sun, it may be detected. Study and sample retrieval may then show physical and chemical signs of heating and melting indicative of a close call with Earth's atmosphere. Yet this will be many decades from now, if ever.
