On February 15, 2013, one of the most spectacular astronomical events of the 21st century occurred over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk—the explosion of a large meteor. At 9:20 AM local time, the object entered Earth's atmosphere at a speed of approximately 18 kilometers per second and exploded at an altitude of around 30–50 kilometers. The explosion's energy was estimated at 400–500 kilotons of TNT, 20–30 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
The shockwave shattered windows in thousands of buildings, causing millions of dollars in damage, and injured more than 1,600 people, primarily due to cuts and bruises from broken glass. In the following days, fragments of the meteorite were discovered, the largest weighing 654 kilograms, recovered from the bottom of Lake Chebarkul. Scientific analysis confirmed it as an ordinary chondrite.
The Chelyabinsk meteor drew worldwide attention and reignited discussions about planetary defense programs aimed at protecting Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids.
Other Events on February 15:
- 1564 – Birth of Galileo Galilei, one of the founders of modern science.
- 1893 – Rudolf Diesel received a patent for the diesel engine.
- 1946 – The first programmable electronic computer, ENIAC, was launched in the United States.
- 1989 – The Soviet Union completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- 2005 – YouTube was founded, revolutionizing online video content.
For English-speaking audiences, the Chelyabinsk event is a stark reminder of how celestial events can impact Earth. The ongoing research into asteroid detection and defense mechanisms continues to be a priority for space agencies worldwide, including NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
