Earth remains safe for now — but what about next asteroid?

It is believed to be a coincidence that a large asteroid came so close to Earth at the same time a meteoroid flamed into the atmosphere over Russia.
Feb 15, 2013


Although the probability of a meteorite crashing in their backyards shouldn’t keep ordinary people up at night, scientists who study such matters are worried.The meteor that streaked across the Russian sky Friday startled scientists worldwide with its audacity, even as it triggered a window- and roof-rattling shockwave that injured more than 1,000 people in the city of Chelyabinsk.



















The two objects had different trajectories, and the asteroid monitored worldwide on Friday was much larger — about the length of half a football field.

The asteroid was the closest known — or accurately predicted — object of its size to fly by Earth. Unlike the Russian meteor, scientists were aware of it and accurately predicted that it would come closer than some weather and communication satellites but leave them unharmed. Those satellites orbit about 23,000 miles up; the meteorite came within about 17,000 miles from Earth.





By Erika Bolstad - McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) (James Rosen of the McClatchy Washington Bureau contributed to this report.)

©2013 McClatchy Washington Bureau

Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at

Distributed by MCT Information Services



Anyone ever think maybe the father country has the technology thanks to you to precisely bust a chip off on its journey earth bound and guess a landing spot


On its journey earth bound? Dosent make sense but whatever


I get it, slimwhite56. You'll post a comment that doesn't make sense, then instead of using the edit feature, you'll post another one that doesn't make sense and "almost try" to excuse the first one.

At the very least, you are trying to excuse yourself. Keep on goin'. You and your partner mikeylikesit are goin' to DisneyLand once ya get it together!

And hey, on the way, pick up Brock Lee and hor mone. I heard they are missing you.


im far too busy at the bath house to be going to disneyland..

hit the road jack

Whats the difference,they aren't going to tell you if one is coming at us anyway.


The world would know. Many objects are first discovered by amateur astronomers.

Now, the Fed says that there is no inflation. THAT I believe. :)

hit the road jack

You are right,the last meteor that came somewhat close was spotted by an amateur,but when the feds found out they didn't tell anyone till it had passed.


My point: There are many more sources of info than the Feds.

The asteroid was discovered by an observatory in Spain - "word" gets out.

G-20: No currency manipulation (except for Japan). Yea, THAT I believe. :)

Cliff Cannon

@ Contango: Every time I read about the G-20 or central banks in general. I am never sure if I should cry,be thankful or drink till I forget. What a mess they have created ( putting it mildly)

Seen a documentary last night at the video store, I think it is called " An inside job" about the Sept. 2008 world wide economic melt down. ( Only cost the world 20 TRILLION ) Which was brought on by currency manipulation,Wall st. theft and Federal gov't stupidity.

I thought it would be interesting. My brown eyed bride wanted funny,not interesting. Geuss who won ?


@ Cliff Cannon:

2008? IMO, NOTHING has changed, it's just been "papered" over.

IMO, "Too Big To Fail" is an interesting movie about the early days of the crisis.

The USD has lost about 33% of it's value since mid-2001 - but "officially" there is no inflation.

Just look at the money supply (M2) and tell me that this can continue to go into infinity.

Barron's cover this wk: "Follow me; We Can Be Like Greece"

On topic: Yrs. ago I saw a Russian booster re-enter the atmosphere. Couldn't figure out quite what it was until I read about it.

It had a long tail with flaming pieces falling off it. Pretty cool!

Cliff Cannon

@ Contango : Me thinks,the Russian booster re-entering the atmosphere, would be far more interesting,no doubt cooler than reading the " M-20 " report from this weekend.

M2 ( 'money suppy ' ) is now a weird economic indicator. When we were young men it was like a meteror to Wall st.,that meant everything. Now it means 'nothing'. Yet our American money looks like monopoly money and the value of our dollar has fallen 33 %. So who's kidding who ? :)

" We can be like Greece " ? America's economy,like Greece's ?
Sad, isn't it ?


The government will feed the dumb Americans anything to keep their minds off the real problems this country is facing!

Brock Lee

is this bushs falt to


unless someone has a really big death ray gun to blast it to smithereens.. there's not much we can do about the next one, now is there?

Anyway with all the droughts and some of the water drying up, I think, we're pretty much screwed - already.


...a David Copperfield type could rake in millions making it disappear...