FOR KIDS: Meteor explodes over Russia

Surprise: No one saw it coming

By Janet Raloff

Web edition: February 21, 2013

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This streak of light shows the meteor?s entry into Earth?s atmosphere. It was photographed by a European weather satellite.

Credit: EUMETSAT

Mother Nature provided a surprise light show over Russia early on February 14. That?s when a major meteor entered Earth?s atmosphere. The object was originally 17 meters (55 feet) in diameter. That?s as wide as a 5-story building is high. It had also weighed a whopping 10,000 metric tons, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA).

The meteor was traveling about 65,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) per hour. It created a brilliant streak as it traveled across the sky for nearly 33 seconds. The meteor then exploded about 20 to 25 kilometers (12 to 15 miles) above Earth?s surface.

Visit the new?Science News for Kids?website?and read the full story:?Meteor explodes over Russia

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348512/title/FOR_KIDS_Meteor_explodes_over_Russia

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