Comments on: Scientist propose solar-based DE-STAR asteroid destroyer

By: David Hyatt

David Hyatt — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:34:00 +0000

To be technically accurate those were fireballs until they exploded. All the different terms let the news make claims like the “closest asteroid flyby ever”. So if the asteroid flies so close it goes through our atmosphere then its a fireball… Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WlCfuPrszU&sns=em

I think everyone forgot about this asteroid that became a fireball then presumably an asteroid again.. So long as it didn’t lose enough energy to circle the sun.. A requirement to be an asteroid.

By: Lobster Mobster

Lobster Mobster — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:35:00 +0000

Finally! Something to convert useless space junk into PURE RAINBOWS!

By: flarepik

flarepik — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:34:00 +0000

Wish they would just build the Death Star for this…

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Uhh, yes it does. Meteoroids become meteors when they hit the atmosphere. When an asteroid hits the atmosphere, it doesn’t matter, because the people that saw it are dead.

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:00:00 +0000

A meteoroid is actually the correct term.

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:59:00 +0000

Heard of a meteoroid?

By: pepee63

pepee63 — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 02:49:00 +0000

Some evil genius will hack the system and point it at earth. Dr Evil anyone.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 02:19:00 +0000

You were paying attention in science class.

By: just me

just me — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 01:36:00 +0000

not that big really… Asteroid is a rock in space. Meteor is a rock flying through the atmosphere (from space). Meteorite is the space rock after it impacts earth…

By: Manny

Manny — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 01:34:00 +0000

Asteroids become meteors when they hit the atmosphere. They become meteorites when they hit the ground. Size makes no difference.

By: Mr Me

Mr Me — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 01:29:00 +0000

The only difference between an asteroid and a meteor is that the meteor is an asteroid that has enertered a planets astmosphere. Lastly a meteorite is just an asteroid which both entered a planets atmosphere AND survived until and after landfall. The common misconception that an asteroid is somehow larger is incorrect.

By: Gurn

Gurn — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:46:00 +0000

It wasn’t an asteroid that landed in Russia. It was a meteorite — thankfully! BIG difference!