METEORITES

Finally, what is probably the most unlikely disaster to occur is so unlikely as to be rather silly to worry about it.  But admittedly it is so potentially disastrous, should it occur on a grand scale, it could destroy the whole earth, a massive meteorite strike.

Meteors are of course rather common. But most are tiny fragments that burn up in the atmosphere and never reach the earth's surface.

But those that do, called meteorites, made of iron or stone are fragments, perhaps of the asteroid belt or a fragment of a former planet or moon.  They can be any size from a grain of dust to something many miles in diameter. Over the years they have struck the Earth repeatedly.  Mostly they are small and the Earth's surface being mostly ocean, they are lost forever.  Many, however, come down on land.  But even here they hit mostly uninhabited ground and are never noticed.  From time to time, however, a meteor, larger than usual, strikes with a bang.

If a meteorite can wipe out many square miles of the Siberian forest in historical times, it is certainly possible that one could just as easily wipe out Detroit.  Well, maybe that would be an improvement, perhaps we should say Paris.

In any case, before you panic, bear in mind the laws of chance.  That huge meteorite strikes do occur is indisputable, but such strikes occur so infrequently that you are far more likely to be hit by a falling piano, or like Dorothy be carried away in a tornado, or perhaps caught in a rainfall of fish, than you are to be killed by a meteor strike.  Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it much.  It is more likely that the shoe bomber will escape, try again, and his exploding plane will fall on you as you drive home for your Thanksgiving dinner. (But keep up that meteor watch guys, it's as good a way to waste taxpayers money as an unnecessary war in some middle eastern desert. Though quite a bit less expensive.)

And who knows, with luck you could be in the path of a significant meteorite. On Dec. 14, 1807, several Connecticut residents  recalled seeing a fireball in the sky and hearing several loud booms. It was the first recorded meteorite impact in North America. Quoting a local newspaper.

The Connecticut Journal and is dated December 24th, 1807

“Remarkable Phenomenon. On Monday the 14th, at about the break of day or a little after, the weather being moderate, calm, and the atmosphere somewhat cloudy and foggy, a meteor or fire ball, passing from a northern point, exploded over the western part of this State, with a tremendous report. At the same time several pieces of stony substance fell to the earth in Fairfield County. One mass was driven against a rock and dashed in small pieces, a peck of which remained on the spot. About three miles distant, in the town of Weston, another large piece fell upon the earth, of which a mass of about thirty pounds weight remains entire, and was exhibited the same day at town meeting. A small mass has been sent to Yale College, and examined by a number of gentlemen. It was immediately perceived by Professor Silliman to contain a metal, and on presenting it to a magnet a powerful attraction proved it to be iron. This is, we believe, the first instance in the United States, in which the substance of this species of meteor has been found on the earth, though it has often been found in Europe.”