Don’t Worry: There’s ‘No Link’ Between The Russian Meteor And The Asteroid Flying By Earth Today

It’s safe to say most of us were quite surprised to learn that a meteor crash over Russia resulted in over 500 people being injured. What’s more is that an asteroid is set to have a close encounter with Earth today as well. But fear not: Officials say the two aren’t related.

The European Space Agency’s Twitter feed noted that officials “confirm there is no link between the meteor incidents in Russia and asteroid 2012DA14 flyby tonight.”

NASA asteroid expert Don Yeomans, offered Space.com some reasoning.

Yeoman stressed that the bolide event was likely not associated at all with the incoming asteroid 2012 DA14, which will fly within 17,200 miles (27,000 kilometers) of Earth when it passes safely by our planet today.

“The asteroid will travel south to north,” Yeomans said. “The bolide trail was not south to north and the separation in time between the fireball and 2012 DA14 close approach is significant.”

The asteroid is said to come within 17,000 miles of Earth, but pass by safely.

Below is another incredible meteor video from Russia:

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