The large cosmic strike over Russia last February caught everybody by surprise. There was no warning, and luckily, the impact and angle of entry was friendly to us Earthlings.What's the difference between a meteor and an asteroid?
According to NBC News,
"Astronomers use different terms to describe cosmic objects of different sizes: When the rock is no wider than a meter (3.3 feet), it's known as a meteoroid. But once you start getting into the 1- to 10-meter range, the term "asteroid" applies. Earlier estimates suggested the Chelyabinsk object was a meteoroid, but the latest assessment would put it in the class of a small asteroid." (http://goo.gl/3vSnL)
Watch Meteor Strike on PBS. See more from NOVA.
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