[meteorite-list] Earth Impactors

[Walter Branch]

Hello Everyone,   I have been asked a question for which I have no answer.      "how large does an object have to be for it not to vaporize completely upon plunging through Earth's atmosphere, i.e., for there to be anything sizeable left to cause wide destruction once it hits the ground (or water)?"   I know that the answer is not an easy one and there are numerous variables involved (e.g., type of material involved, angle of entry, definition of "wide destruction," etc.) but does anyone have a guess (or a SWAG) as to the answer.   -Walter ----------------------------------------------- Walter Branch, Ph.D. Branch Meteorites 322 Stephenson Ave., Suite B Savannah, GA  31405 USA www.branchmeteorites.com