Chelyabinsk Meteor

Astronomers keeping watch for Earth-threatening asteroids and comets have hit the milestone of 15,000 objects detected

Astronomy

Tally of known near-Earth asteroids and comets hits 15,000

As highlighted by the Chelyabinsk meteor impact of 2013 and frequent fly-bys of asteroids, we need to keep watching the skies for any space rocks that may pose a threat. Teams of astronomers doing that have hit a milestone of 15,000 near-Earth objects (NEOs), and there’s plenty more still to find.

The fireball of the Chelyabinsk meteor (Image: NASA/M. Ahmetvaleev)

Astronomy

NASA team uncovers new data on Chelyabinsk meteoroid

Last Friday, NASA announced a new report published in Science that used videos and eyewitness accounts to provide new insights into the Chelyabinsk incident and the nature of the object that caused it.

Arrays of infrasound station IS49, Tristan da Cunha, United Kingdom

Astronomy

Russian meteor blast heard around the world

Low-frequency sound from the Chelyabinsk meteor traveled across the globe and was picked up as far away as Antarctica 15,000 km (9,320 miles) away.