EKU professor talks about what could be done to stop asteroids

Updated: Fri 7:26 PM, Feb 15, 2013

RICHMOND, Ky. (WKYT) - It's grabbed attention all around the world.
A meteor exploded over Russia on Friday, causing panic, damaged buildings and leaving nearly 1,100 people injured. The meteor exploded the same day an asteroid whizzed very close to earth.

EKU Associate Physicist Dr. Marco Ciocca says it's the biggest asteroid to ever get this close to Earth.

"Something the size of half a football field moving at 15,000 miles per hour is going to make a heck of a boom," Dr. Ciocca says.

With all the activity near our planet, some wonder what we can do about it.

"Wouldn't be much we could do because this thing is so small even if you're talking about something the size of a small car that is coming at 17,000 miles an hour. It's like shooting a bullet with a bullet. It could be done, but the cost would overrun any danger protection," says Dr. Ciocca.

The Kentucky Geological Society tells us meteorites have hit 27 places in Kentucky. The data goes back millions of years.

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