Space & Astronomy

Meteorite falls near Nicaraguan capital

By T.K. Randall
September 9, 2014 ·  13 comments

The meteorite is believed to have been part of a passing asteroid. Image Credit: NASA Residents reported hearing a loud bang and the prevalence of a strong burning smell when the meteorite, which is thought to have broken off of a large asteroid passing near to the Earth, hit the ground near the capital at the weekend.

Experts have since been called in to investigate the 40ft crater which is around 5m deep and located in a wooded area dangerously close to both the airport and an air force base."All the evidence that we've confirmed at the site corresponds exactly with a meteorite and not with any other type of event," said scientist Jose Millan. "We have the seismic register which coincides with the time of impact, and the typical characteristic that it produces a cone in the place of impact."

The meteorite is believed to have originated from the asteroid 2014RC which, at the size of a house, passed over New Zealand at a distance of around 25,000 miles on Sunday.

Source: BBC News | Comments (13)

Tags: Nicaragua, Meteorite