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amxorca t1_j6gm3vc wrote

The asteroid is at the larger size estimate of 8 meters in diameter, if it had entered the atmosphere it would not have reached the ground intact and would breakup around 30 km above the ground, thus representing only minimal threat to life. So.. nothing to see here, no pun intented

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hagfish t1_j6j5xdm wrote

Something - anything - disappating that amount of energy that quickly, is going to make a big bang, even if it doesn't leave a huge crater. The Tunguska Event didn't leave a crater, but it would have 'broken a few windows' if it had occurred near a built-up area. If by 'minimal threat to life' you mean 'all life on Earth', then - absolutely - this would have been a local disaster - a few hundred square miles.

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Rhaedas t1_j6k1trx wrote

Tunguska or the more recent Chelyabinsk meteor were larger objects. Estimates of Tunguska are around a 50 meter icy body and the more recent one was around 20 meters. An 8 meter body means a lot less mass and effect.

Tunguska was a lot more impactful because of its probable angle of impact based on the patterns of the explosion, getting it lower before it detonated from the pressures. Chelyabinsk would have been a lot worse had it also been that straight of an angle in, but less total area affected for the same reason.

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