Tunguska Simulation

A simulation of the Asteroid Airburst that may have caused the 190-8 TUnguska Event. Done by Planetary Geologist Peter Schultz on the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range in August of 2009. A projectile the size of a ball bearing is fired at 15 thousand miles per hour into a sheet of mylar (off camera) which causes it to explode in mid-air. The fireball streaks down to the surface, but the damage is caused by the shockwave from the midair explosion. The toothpicks stand in for the trees in the Tunguska. A verison of this animation was used in the National Geographic Channel program "Expedition Apocalyppse"

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Tunguska
• Siberia
• NASA
• Vertical Gun
• airburst