The Chelyabinsk asteroid left a vapor trail as it hit the Earth's atmosphere in 2013. M. Ahmetvaleev/European Space AgencyAs humans, we live out our lives on a planet that is constantly sweeping through a cosmic ocean littered with ancient debris from the formation of the solar system. For the most part, our world glides silently through space, shielded by Earth’s thin atmosphere.
Occasionally, however, the rest of the universe reminds us of its presence with stunning, visceral clarity.
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