What are the chances of a meteor strike over Oregon?
EUGENE, Ore. -- The videos that cropped up following the meteorite that entered earth’s atmosphere over Russia look like they are shot for a blockbuster movie.
The meteorite sent out shock waves which NASA called "stronger than the nuclear weapons dropped in world war two”.
While the blast happened thousands of miles from Oregon, the events left some wondering if something like that could happen here?
Susan Peterson, the director of the Science Factory Planetarium, said that while it is highly unlikely, there always is that fraction of a possibility.
“Absolutely … but the chances of it doing so are incredibly tiny,” Peterson said. “Believe me, your chances of winning the lottery 5 times in a row (are better) than being present when an event like this happens.”
Peterson said that while the chances are unlikely, it already has happened in North America. The "Willamette meteorite" was found near Portland in 1902.
Scientists think it hit earth centuries earlier... Somewhere around Canada or Montana and was carried to Oregon in a glacier, Peterson said.
Researchers said that the Willamette meteorite is the biggest one discovered on our continent and is now on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
“But the Russians … they're gonna find a lot of chunks of this,” said Jerry Oltion, an astronomy expert with the Eugene Astronomical Society.
Oltion has his own piece of astronomical history, a chunk of meteorite rock that hit in Argentina.
“Boy you know if one of these 150-feet across were to hit the earth I wouldn't be nearly as happy," Oltion said, tossing the piece of meteor between his hands.
Oltion said scientists are working on new technologies that could stop meteorites from hitting if they're spotted far enough in advanced.
Just a matter of time before Lane County proposes a "meteor" tax to fund some obscure study on when the next meteor will pass/come close to/be anywhere near our atmosphere
If Oregon takes a meteor it is the will of the cosmos...
Obviously Bush's fault!
Like so much of the news, fluff and filler. But I think it can also be viewed that this is allaying fear, in that it points out just how unlikely it is.Â
Other folks think its a message from some cosmic deity. Brink of insanity indeed.
Chances are we will be overtaxed are much greater.
This is so stupid "What are the percentages of a meteor strike in Oregon" that's like saying when will a major earthquake strike Oregon. Who knows, there are millions of meteors passing the Earth every week. They fall when they fall, and hit where ever they fall.
When was the last earthquake predicted to hit Oregon correctly? It cannot be done. I say a major earthquake will hit Oregon sometime in the next 500 years.
@Steven Owen I agree with you totally, mother nature is going to do what mother nature does. This constant attempt by the Government and Media to keep everyone in fear has to stop. We have so many people that are teetering on the edge of sanity, and they just add one more seed.