Meteors and asteroids
- By Richard Branson -
- Feb 15, 2013
Incredible news today regarding the meteor exploding over central Russia. Our thoughts are with all who have been affected by the incident, with more than 500 people reported to be injured but thankfully no fatalities.
The stunning video above highlights the impact of the meteorite, with fireballs blazing through the clouds above Chelyabinsk, 950 miles east of Moscow.
There has been speculation that the meteor may be linked to the Olympic swimming pool-sized asteroid DA14 that is expected to pass the Earth at a distance of 27,520 km (17,100 miles) later today. DA14 is the closest any asteroid has come to our planet since scientists began making records, 14 times closer than the moon.
Both the meteor and the asteroid are just the latest examples of the extreme power of nature, the wonder it can provoke and how much we still have to learn about the universe and its workings.
As plans for Virgin Galactic continue to gather pace, we are looking forward to mining asteroids in the not too distant future when they pass Earth.
Edit: Thanks for pointing out original video was old footage, latest video from RussiaToday now added.
By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
