The two events are not related
CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) -- No matter how it might feel, the sky is not falling.
A meteor struck the earth in Russia's Chelyabinsk region.
Additionally, an asteroid is passing very near to the Earth; just 17,150 miles up.
That places the asteroid inside the orbit of any communication and weather satellites.
Scientists are certain it will not strike the Earth, nor will it hit any of the satellites.
For those hoping to view the asteroid from Mid-Michigan, this could be difficult.
Scientists say that the best viewing locations, with binoculars and telescopes, will be in Asia, Australia and Eastern Europe.
What did impact the Earth, however, was the meteor in Russia.
The Russian Academy of Sciences is estimating the meteor that streaked into the skies over the Ural Mountains and caused shock waves that injured more than 500 people weighed about 10 tons.
The academy says the meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of at least 33,000 mph and shattered about 18-32 miles above ground.
6,000 square feet of a roof of a zinc factory collapsed.
You can see a YouTube video perported to be of the meteroite by clicking here or by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.
(Copyright ©2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
