A major threat of asteroids in the new branch of the Taurid Stream had scientists scampering with the excitement of its discovery. The risk of being hit by these branch of asteroids is real enough by its manifestation when a 66-foot wide chunk entered the earth's atmosphere and landed in the Ural Region of Russia. That piece of space rock was named the Chelyabinsk Asteroid hitting the area back in 2013.
Scientists observed that the branch from the Taurid Stream could catapult a 1000-foot wide asteroid into the earth's oceans or land mass. A rock of this magnitude could wipe out entire regions if it hits earth. The aftermath scenario is a catastrophic picture of immense destruction and carnage. The frequency of meteor showers is prevalent during the months of October and November when the planet passes the Taurid stream of asteroids.
A group of astronomers from the Czech Academy of Science from the Czech Republic believes that evidence they have are proof enough that the earth is constantly at risk with the asteroid collision possibility. Their study of the asteroid shower frequency was in the journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics wherein the team analyzed the data of 144 Taurid fireballs using HD cameras last 2015 which was a year of meteor shower activity. Out of the fireballs in observation, 113 of these form together in a well-defined orbital formation that the scientists call "branch" reports Newsweek.
The scientists' observation of the branch indicated two large rock formations measuring 650 feet and 980 feet wide. An aftermath scenario of this masses colliding with earth's populated area could result in huge loss of lives and damages to environment and property. The scientists reported that the risk of an average 1000 foot wide asteroid collision over earth increases annually as the planet passes through the Taurid Stream.
For an asteroid to hit the earth measuring 1000 feet in diameter would not matter if it impacts on land mass or water. The impact would be so great at the speed of 30 km/second that it would be impossible to slow it down by natural causes. Air and water will be helpless when this huge object enters the earth's atmosphere at this speed. The deep impact will reach the earth's crust vaporizing the space rock and throwing all the crumbled mantle rocks into the air, reports Curious Astro Cornell.
The magnitude of impact will be so great that some rocks will speed back through the atmosphere into space while most of it will plummet down, spread throughout the entire planet. The impact will turn the heat up in the atmosphere like the inside of a burning oven, eating everything on the ground. Dust and soot from the impact and combustion will float in the air for a year or so, blocking the sunlight. Without sunlight, plant, animal, and marine life will perish.
The Chicxulub Crater in Mexico is a stern reminder of how life came to a halt 65 million years ago causing the extinction of dinosaurs. By probability, the chances of an asteroid of this magnitude slamming the earth are once in 50 to 100 million years.
The author of the study of the Taurid Stream, Jiri Borovicka says that they do not have enough data yet to quantify the collision chances of large asteroids slamming earth. Astrophysicist Brian May said that the more they learn about asteroids, the more they are certain that the world is living on borrowed time.
