Meteorite explosion in Antarctica questions researchers

The meteorite was at least 100 meters in diameter, according to English researchers.

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Researchers from the University of Kent (United Kingdom) surveying the heights of the Sør Rondane range in eastern Antarctica came across "extraterrestrial particles", reports

Wednesday March 31.

They come from the low-level explosion of a meteorite in this region 430,000 years ago.

100 meters in diameter

The pebble coming from space was at least 100 meters in diameter.

The traces of this event are characterized by the dispersion at the top of the Walnutfjellet of "spherules of molten and vaporized matter", specifies the scientific site.

According to the researchers, the event was much larger than those that appeared in Russia, first in Tunguska in 1908 and in Chelyabinsk in 2013. But since there was no impact to dig a crater, "identify "And" characterize "such events remains delicate, specifies

.

Studying the meteorite

Based on their discovery, the British researchers recommend that work examines whether events similar to those they have identified have occurred in the past.

They propose to carry out research on the side of the oceanic subsoils, the Earth being mainly covered by the oceans.

It is important to reassess the danger of such meteoric explosions as shown by the example of Chelyabinsk where the explosion of a meteorite left 1,200 people injured.

An event of the magnitude of the one that took place over Antarctica could cause, depending on the area, serious damage and many casualties.

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