Asteroid 'Hit Northern Russia'

Ananova ^ | 10-4-2002

[blam]

Asteroid 'hit northern Russia'

A large meteorite is thought to have smashed into a forest in a remote area of Russia.

Residents in the town of Bodaibo, in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, saw a large luminous body fall from the sky.

They say the impact caused the ground to shake and made a sound like thunder.

Flashes of bright light could be seen above the impact site, which was a long way from any settlements according to the Russian newspaper Pravda.

"Locals felt a strong shock, which could be comparable to an earthquake," said the report. "In addition to that, the people also heard a thunder-like sound."

Asteroid expert Dr Benny Peiser, from Liverpool John Moore's University, said: "If the eyewitness accounts are confirmed, this fact of an earth tremor together with thunder-like explosive sounds would indicate a rather significant impact event."

He said the incident occurred on the same day as the US House of Representatives debated the need to search for smaller asteroids and the danger of mistaking impacts for nuclear attacks.

At least 30 times a year, asteroids smash into the Earth's atmosphere and explode with the force of a nuclear bomb.

These smaller asteroids, between 200 and 500 metres wide, could potentially demolish a city with a direct hit or cause tsunamis - giant waves - capable of wiping out entire coastal areas if they land in the ocean.

Astronomers estimate there could be between 900 and 1,300 large asteroids measuring one kilometre or more in our part of the solar system, while the number of smaller bodies could amount to 50,000.

Story filed: 18:25 Friday 4th October 2002

[tupac]

Demonic worship..Nuke it.

[LibWhacker]

Locals felt a strong shock, which could be comparable to an earthquake . . .

How dare this happen while I've got my head in the sand!!!

[tupac]

Right you are, Firesign Theatre. MORE SUGAR!!!

[PJ-Comix]

Why can't these damn things ever hit somewhere like Mecca?

Actually, it once did. What do you think the Ka'aba Rock is?

[Lokibob]

Try again, Luna is just another word meaning "moon".

[Lokibob]

But I spell "BOB" with one "O". Don't confuse me with your boss.

[prov1813man]

I think that's right, he was one of the "merry pranksters".

Thanks for the memories, also born in '48.

[PoorMuttly]

Firesign Theater.

[PoorMuttly]

So we have to go back to calling the moon Gus...or Bernard ?

[PoorMuttly]

Moon your boss.

That fixes it.

[tictoc]

What if...?

[Lokibob]

Or....... LOKIBOB!!!!!

[Mulder]

Actually, it once did. What do you think the Ka'aba Rock is?

I'm still not convinced that it is really from outer space.

I wouldn't be surprised if it came from Mohammed's ass (those two words are redunant, I know) just like the Koran did.

[PoorMuttly]

I'm going to give up now...and bay at Gus.

[blam]

"The nearest word I can find translates as "Buckwheat"... (was somebody having a little fun there?)"

Look Here:

Near-Earth Asteroid 3753 Cruithne Earth's Curious Companion.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I always thought Asteroids were what the astronauts would get if they didn't use good seat cushions on the space shuttle...

[DB]

Key word "atmosphere".

[Eala]

Ah! The Picts!! Thanks very much for the link.

[sheik yerbouty]

The Kaaba is a Borg Cube.

[tdscpa]

"Try again, Luna is just another word meaning "moon"."

Apparently not to everyone. Luna.