Description: This rare stamp showcases the Tunguska Meteorite Explosion that occurred in Russia in 1908. It is a genuine, mint never hinged stamp that is a great addition to any stamp collection. The stamp features a stunning image of the Tunguska Meteorite Explosion and is a must-have for any space or astronomy enthusiast. The stamp has its origins in Russia and is a great representation of the country's history. With its high quality and genuine certification, this stamp is a valuable addition to any collection. It is categorized under Russia & Soviet Union, Europe, and Stamps. Don't miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of history! You will receive a stamp like this one but not the exact same one. The Tunguska explosion: June 30, 1908 On today’s date 115 years ago, the largest asteroid impact in recorded history struck on a warm summer morning in Siberia, Russia. Now, we observe Asteroid Day each year on June 30, on the anniversary of what’s now known as the “Tunguska explosion”.The explosion happened over the sparsely populated northern forestland above the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in what is present-day Krasnoyarsk Krai.Incredibly, the blast released enough energy to kill reindeer and flatten an estimated 80 million trees over an area of 830 square miles (2,150 square km). Witnesses reported seeing a fireball – a bluish light, nearly as bright as the sun – moving across the sky. In addition, a flash and a sound similar to artillery fire was said to follow it. Moreover, a powerful shockwave broke windows hundreds of miles/kilometers away and knocked people off their feet.Yet, ultimately, decades passed before anyone could explain the event.Map showing the approximate location of the Tunguska event of 1908 in Siberia, Russia. Image via Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 3.0.Tunguska explosion largest in recorded historyA mysterious aspect of the Tunguska event was that, surprisingly, no one ever found a crater. But, even without a crater, scientists still categorized it as an impact event. They now believe the incoming object never struck Earth, but instead exploded in the atmosphere, causing what’s known as an air burst. This type of atmospheric explosion was still enough to cause massive damage to the forest in the region.Scientists determined the object was most likely a stony asteroid approximately the size of a 25-story building. And the asteroid was traveling at a speed of about 33,500 miles (54,000 km) per hour and exploded 3 to 6 miles (5 to 10 km) above Earth’s surface.Understanding the Tunguska explosionWhy did it take so long – the better part of the 20th century – for scientists to understand what caused the Tunguska event? For one thing, it was almost two decades before the first scientists reached this remote region of Siberia. In 1927, Leonid Kulik led the first Soviet research expedition to investigate the Tunguska event. He made an initial trip to the region, interviewing local witnesses and exploring the area of fallen trees.But Kulik did not find any meteorite fragments or an impact crater.As a result of Kulik’s initial investigation, some concocted wild theories to explain the Tunguska event. People claimed a stricken alien spacecraft caused the destruction. In addition, later, they pointed to a mini-black-hole, or a particle of antimatter.The truth is just as interesting, and perhaps more terrifying … because it can happen again.Photo of an air burst, in this case from a U.S. Navy submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missile. A similar kind of air burst from an incoming asteroid or comet flattened the trees in Siberia in 1908.
Price: 19.99 USD
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
End Time: 2025-01-30T03:03:31.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0.69 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Place of Origin: Russia & Soviet Union
Quality: Mint Never Hinged/MNH
Grade: Ungraded
Certification: Genuine
