Space Rock Crosses Earth's Atmosphere

The biggest fireball since the Chelyabinsk explosion has plunged through the atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean.

17:28 24 February 2016

A large space rock burns up over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Brazil at 13:55 GMT on 6 February.

 

It released the equivalent of 13,000 tonnes of TNT, making it the most powerful event of its kind since an object exploded over Chelyabinsk in Russia in 2013.

 

The blast recorded three years ago was much bigger and more than 1,000 people were injured, most from flying glass from shattered windows.

 

The recent fireball over the Atlantic went unnoticed but was listed by NASA on the event on its Fireball and Bolide Reports web page.