On February 15, 2013, a meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, creating the most powerful atmospheric entry event in recorded history since the 1908 Tunguska explosion. The superbolide entered Earth's atmosphere at approximately 9:20 a.m. local time, traveling at over 40,000 miles per hour. The meteor measured roughly 20 meters in diameter and weighed an estimated 12,000-13,000 metric tons before its explosive disintegration. The airburst occurred at an altitude of about 18.5 miles above the

The 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor exploded 15 miles above Earth, injuring 1,500 people and damaging 7,000 buildings. Some researchers link it to the Taurid meteor stream, a potential key to the Younger Dryas impact event. | The Randall Carlson