18 replies to this topic

[RidingPie]

There is some stunning meteor footage coming out of Russia this morning.

I hope no one was seriously injured!

http://www.youtube.c...d&v=7c-0iwBEswE

[Severus]

Awesome. Russian air defence blew up the meteor whilst it was still in the air (allegedly). The the damage to this building was caused by the pressure wave.

[hindle xiii]

And that was just it's baby. Mama's coming and she is gonna be piissssed.

Edited by hindle xiii, 15 February 2013 - 09:10 AM.

[RidingPie]

hrm I'm not convinced air defence could have shot down a meteor. Remember these things explode on their own as they heat up getting closer to the ground (see the tunguska event for just how powerful these explosions can be mid air) due to the water in them vaporising.

Although I really would like to see the footage if they shot it down.

[RidingPie]

a couple more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iCawTYPtehk#!

http://www.youtube.c...d&v=Np_mpGYSBSA
That one is quite amusing for when the sonic boom hits them

[Severus]

hrm I'm not convinced air defence could have shot down a meteor. Remember these things explode on their own as they heat up getting closer to the ground (see the tunguska event for just how powerful these explosions can be mid air) due to the water in them vaporising.

I agree, hence the caveat in my post.

[gingerjon]

God is angry with the Russians for passing anti-gay legislation.


(Yes, yes, I got that line from twitter.)

[Futtocks]

hrm I'm not convinced air defence could have shot down a meteor. Remember these things explode on their own as they heat up getting closer to the ground (see the tunguska event for just how powerful these explosions can be mid air) due to the water in them vaporising.

I'd assume if you exploded a missile within the vicinity of the meteor, the shockwave might cause it to disintegrate sooner/higher than it would normally.

[Wolford6]

I'd have thought that a heat-seeking missile would lock straight on to a decent-sized meteorite.

[RidingPie]

I'd assume if you exploded a missile within the vicinity of the meteor, the shockwave might cause it to disintegrate sooner/higher than it would normally.

Thats the trick though isn't it! Tracking and getting in to the vicinity of super sonic object isn't going to be easy. Since they aren't tracked from space it would have to be picked up once it got in to the atmosphere. Also their course won't be straight due bursts of vapour as the outer layers heated.

As for the heat seeking missile, it might lock on, but intercepting and catching it would be the difficult part.

[Grinner]

It's the arrival of the triffids, mark my words.

[RidingPie]

Sounds like there has been a lot of injuries, upwards of 500 with 2 in critical condition. My thoughts are with them and their families, hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.

Seems most of the injuries came from the sonic boom

Tim O'Brien, associate director of the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory, said:
This reasonably large chunk of rock was moving faster than the speed of sound, maybe 20,000 miles per hour. It made a sonic boom in the atmosphere, and that hit buildings and shattered windows. That is what seems to have caused the injuries.
It's a completely abnormal experience. This thing appeared in the distance, raced over the horizon and was followed up 30 seconds or a minute later by a huge boom as the shock wave hit the ground. I can imagine that would be very frightening.

20,000 mph!!!

[hindle xiii]

It was Superman.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Russia's corrupt traffic cops and driving innsurance scams means there are lots of dashboard cams as protection/defence.

Silver lining is there are lots of cool videos like this!

[l'angelo mysterioso]

hrm I'm not convinced air defence could have shot down a meteor. Remember these things explode on their own as they heat up getting closer to the ground (see the tunguska event for just how powerful these explosions can be mid air) due to the water in them vaporising.

Although I really would like to see the footage if they shot it down.

they are easy enough to track since their course and speed are constant-it isn't like they can take evasive action. If it were small enough, then maybe it's possible, then again maybe you're right.

[JohnM]

Shh! Don't say it was me wot told yer, but it was the RFL wot did it.

[Phil]

It's the arrival of the triffids, mark my words.

There's a strange weed growing in my back garden

[tonyXIII]

There's a strange weed growing in my back garden

Your 'weed' coud be someone else's cash crop.

[Phil]

Your 'weed' coud be someone else's cash crop.