The American Meteor Society reported that a large daytime fireball or very bright meteor entered the atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Russia and exploded on Feb.15. More than 1100 persons were injured with 48 being hospitalized, as a result of broken glass, debris and explosions.
In reporting on the Russian meteor, the AMS revised its estimated size of the object, prior to entering Earth’s atmosphere, upward from 49 feet (15 meters) to 55 feet (17 meters), and its estimated mass has increased from 7,000 to 10,000 tons. Also, the estimate for energy released during the event has increased by 30 kilotons to nearly 500 kilotons of energy released….The infrasound data indicates that the event, from atmospheric entry to the meteor’s airborne disintegration took 32.5 seconds.
“We would expect an event of this magnitude to occur once every 100 years on average,” said Paul Chodas of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. “When you have a fireball of this size we would expect a large number of meteorites to reach the surface and in this case there were probably some large ones.”
The American Meteor Society also noted that the trajectory of the Russia meteor was significantly different than the trajectory of the asteroid 2012 DA14, which hours later made its flyby of Earth, making it a completely unrelated object.
According to the Washington Post, hours after a meteor exploded over Russia and the unrelated asteroid passed relatively close to Earth, residents of the San Francisco Bay Area reported seeing a fireball in the sky that scientists said was likely a piece of space rock. Another meteor that reportedly was seen in the same area last October caused a loud sonic boom.
Mike Hankey, operations manager for the American Meteor Society, described the sporadic meteor or fireball, noting "Fireballs happen every single night, all around the world."
Jonathan Braidman, an instructor at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, described the object based off reports the center received as likely being a small piece of an asteroid that "somehow" got on a collision course with the earth.
"This is a very common occurrence," Braidman said. "What is uncommon is that it's so close to where people are living."
According to the End Times website, the number of sightings of fireballs has increased tremendously:
Part of the explanation for the increase in sightings is the several radio programs that Peter Davenport, National UFO Reporting Center Director, has made appearances on, in order to discuss the high volume of reports of “fireballs” that we have been receiving since June 2011. Whereas a typical number of reports submitted per month to NUFORC over the last 17 years has been 250-350, during June we received 974, and we have received 1,052 during July. The majority of the reports from the last two months appear to be about the “fireballs,” which we have discussed frequently over the past year. This type of sighting appears to have increased significantly, within the last month or two, and they now dominate the reports we are receiving.
The increasing frequency of fireballs and other cosmic occurrences is causing many to speculate as to what these astronomical phenomena really mean. Some say these occurrences are signs of the end times.
In Luke 21 when Jesus Christ is asked about the signs of his return to earth, he responds,
9 But when you shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
He goes on to say,
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.
Many who are observing the times and seasons, in light of the increase in meteors and other cosmic phenomena, remark that the return of Christ may be nearer than when they first believed.
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