Images: Russian Meteor Explosion

Russia meteor trail

(Image credit: Russian Emergency Ministry)

A meteor streaks across the sky in eastern Russia in this picture released by the Russian Emergency Ministry. Hundreds were injured in the morning blast on Feb. 15, 2013, mostly from falling glass shattered by the shock wave.

Thermal Trail

Thermal trail from Russia meteorite

(Image credit: copyright EUMETSAT 2013)

The thermal impact of the meteor that exploded over Russia on the morning of Feb. 15, 2013, visible as a colorful blot near the edge of the satellite's range.

Meteor Explosion Shattered Glass

glass shattered by meteorite explosion

(Image credit: Russian Emergency Ministry)

A meteor explosion on the morning of Feb. 15, 2013, shattered glass in the Chelyabinsk region.

Meteor Trail

Meteor trail in Russia

(Image credit: Russian Emergency Ministry)

A meteor trail seen in Russia. The meteor was accompanied by a huge blast, according to Russian reports.

Meteor over Russia

Meteor trail in Russia

(Image credit: Russian Emergency Ministry)

Scientists estimate that the size of the object that exploded over Russia Feb. 15, 2013 was only a few meters across.

Meteor From Space

Meteor trail from space

(Image credit: copyright EUMETSAT 2013)

The Meteosat-9 satellite captured this image of a meteor streaking into the atmosphere over Russia on Feb. 15, 2013.

Meteor Makes Waves

Meteor on seismic

(Image credit: USGS)

Though the U.S. Geological Survey is set up to monitor earthquakes, big enough explosions register on seismic equipment. The agency posted this photo on their Facebook page Feb. 15 showing the impact of a meteor explosion over Russia.

Shattered glass

russia meteor shatters windows

(Image credit: Russia's Emergency Ministry)

Windows were shattered by an apparent meteor explosion over parts of eastern Russia on Feb. 15, 2013, according to this image released by the Russian Emergency Ministry.

Smoke trail

smoke trail from russia meteor

(Image credit: Russian Meteor Smoke Trail Russian Meteor Smoke TrailCredit:)

This video still image shows the smoke trail created by the meteor that exploded over the Chelyabinsk region of Russia on Feb. 15, 2013.

Meteor trail

smoke trail from russia meteor

(Image credit: AFP/Powered By Newslook)

This video still image shows the smoke trail created by the meteor that exploded over the Chelyabinsk region of Russia on Feb. 15, 2013.

Meteor fall

smoke trail from russia meteor

(Image credit: AFP/Powered By Newslook)

This video still image shows the smoke trail created by the meteor that exploded over the Chelyabinsk region of Russia on Feb. 15, 2013.

Infrasound waveform from Russian meteor

Infrasound waveform from Russian meteor

(Image credit: isoundhunter)

The Russian meteor blast send infrasound, or low-frequency sound waves, through the atmosphere.

Russian meteor infrasound locations

Russian meteor infrasound locations

(Image credit: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization)

Eleven infrasound stations around the world recorded the meteor blast above Russian on Friday.

First light

russia meteor shatters windows

(Image credit: Russia Today)

The fireball from a meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Feb. 15, 2013, creating a shockwave that shattered windows and injured more than 1,000 people. (Video screenshot)

Stephanie Pappas
Live Science Contributor

Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science, covering topics ranging from geoscience to archaeology to the human brain and behavior. She was previously a senior writer for Live Science but is now a freelancer based in Denver, Colorado, and regularly contributes to Scientific American and The Monitor, the monthly magazine of the American Psychological Association. Stephanie received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.