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hagfish t1_j6j5xdm wrote

Reply to comment by amxorca in ‘Extraordinary’ footage shows one of the closest known approaches of a near-Earth object — On 26 Jan. 2023, asteroid 2023 BU was about 2,200 miles above the surface of the Earth by marketrent

Something - anything - disappating that amount of energy that quickly, is going to make a big bang, even if it doesn't leave a huge crater. The Tunguska Event didn't leave a crater, but it would have 'broken a few windows' if it had occurred near a built-up area. If by 'minimal threat to life' you mean 'all life on Earth', then - absolutely - this would have been a local disaster - a few hundred square miles.

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Rhaedas t1_j6k1trx wrote

Tunguska or the more recent Chelyabinsk meteor were larger objects. Estimates of Tunguska are around a 50 meter icy body and the more recent one was around 20 meters. An 8 meter body means a lot less mass and effect.

Tunguska was a lot more impactful because of its probable angle of impact based on the patterns of the explosion, getting it lower before it detonated from the pressures. Chelyabinsk would have been a lot worse had it also been that straight of an angle in, but less total area affected for the same reason.

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