Earth has experienced several notable asteroid impacts throughout its history.
Quasi-Recent Events
- Tunguska Event (1908): An airburst over Siberia, flattening trees for 2,150 square miles. Estimated energy release: 10-15 megatons of TNT.
- Chelyabinsk Meteor (2013): A meteor entered the atmosphere and exploded with a force equivalent to about 470 kilotons of TNT, causing widespread damage but no casualties.
Historical Impacts
- K-Pg Extinction Event (~66 million years ago): An asteroid impact is believed to have caused the extinction of dinosaurs. Estimated energy release: 100-400 megatons of TNT.
Pro tip: The risk of a large asteroid impact today is low, but NASA and other organizations monitor near-Earth objects for potential threats.