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Meteor Exploding Above Russia Not Related to Asteroid

By on February 15, 2013

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Scientists say a 150-foot asteroid hurtling toward a close pass with Earth today had nothing to do with the meteor that injured hundreds in Russia today.

The asteroid is expected to make the closest known flyby for a rock of its size, missing Earth by 17,150 miles.

But that’s closer than many communication and weather satellites.

The asteroid will be too small to see with the naked eye. The best viewing locations, with binoculars and telescopes, will be in Asia, Australia and Eastern Europe.

As asteroids go, this is a shrimp. The one that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago was 6 miles across. But this rock could still pack a wallop, wiping out 750 square miles if it struck.