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The 1908 Tunguska explosion: atmospheric disruption of a stony asteroid
Naturevolume 361, pages40–44 (1993)Cite this article
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Abstract
The explosion over Tunguska, Central Siberia, in 1908 released 10 to 20 megatons (high explosive equivalent) of energy at an altitude of about 10 km. This event represents a typical fate for stony asteroids tens of metres in radius entering the Earth's atmosphere at common hypersonic velocities. Comets and carbonaceous asteroids of the appropriate energy disrupt too high, whereas typical iron objects reach and crater the terrestrial surface.
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Author information
Christopher F. Chyba
Present address: Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Code 693, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, USA
Authors and Affiliations
Space Science Division, MS 245-3, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, 94035, USA
Christopher F. Chyba & Kevin J. Zahnle
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54702, USA
Paul J. Thomas
- Christopher F. Chyba
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- Paul J. Thomas
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
- Kevin J. Zahnle
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Chyba, C., Thomas, P. & Zahnle, K. The 1908 Tunguska explosion: atmospheric disruption of a stony asteroid.Nature361, 40–44 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/361040a0
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