EUGENE, Ore. -- The videos that cropped up following the meteorite that entered earth’s atmosphere over Russia look like they are shot for a blockbuster movie.
The meteorite sent out shock waves which NASA called "stronger than the nuclear weapons dropped in world war two”.
While the blast happened thousands of miles from Oregon, the events left some wondering if something like that could happen here?
Susan Peterson, the director of the Science Factory Planetarium, said that while it is highly unlikely, there always is that fraction of a possibility.
“Absolutely … but the chances of it doing so are incredibly tiny,” Peterson said. “Believe me, your chances of winning the lottery 5 times in a row (are better) than being present when an event like this happens.”
Peterson said that while the chances are unlikely, it already has happened in North America. The "Willamette meteorite" was found near Portland in 1902.
Scientists think it hit earth centuries earlier... Somewhere around Canada or Montana and was carried to Oregon in a glacier, Peterson said.
Researchers said that the Willamette meteorite is the biggest one discovered on our continent and is now on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
“But the Russians … they're gonna find a lot of chunks of this,” said Jerry Oltion, an astronomy expert with the Eugene Astronomical Society.
Oltion has his own piece of astronomical history, a chunk of meteorite rock that hit in Argentina.
“Boy you know if one of these 150-feet across were to hit the earth I wouldn't be nearly as happy," Oltion said, tossing the piece of meteor between his hands.
Oltion said scientists are working on new technologies that could stop meteorites from hitting if they're spotted far enough in advanced.