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The 1908 Tunguska explosion - Atmospheric disruption of a stony asteroidThe explosion over Tunguska, Central Siberia, in 1908 released 10 to 20 megatons (high explosive equivalent) of energy at an altitude of about 10 km. This event represents a typical fate for stony asteroids tens of meters in radius entering the Earth's atmosphere at common hypersonic velocities. Comets and carbonaceous asteroids of the appropriate energy disrupt too high, whereas typical iron objects reach and crater the terrestrial surface.
Document ID
19930040324
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Chyba, Christofer F.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA; NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Thomas, Paul J.
(Wisconsin Univ. Eau Claire, United States)
Zahnle, Kevin J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 7, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 361
Issue: 6407
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
93A24321
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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