62-mile space rock caused massive asteroid shower that hit Earth, moon 800M years ago, study says

[July 21, 2020: Fox News]

Eight hundred million years ago, a 62-mile-wide asteroid broke apart and sent 110 trillion pounds of meteorites crashing into the moon and the Earth, according to a new study.

As part of the asteroid disruption, the researchers said it's possible that it resulted in a 10 mile-wide asteroid hitting the Earth and caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, citing the thin layer of iridium enrichment (a metal commonly seen in asteroids) found around the world.

"Our research results have provided a novel perspective on earth science and planetary science," the study's lead author, Kentaro Terada, said in a statement. "They will yield a wide range of positive effects in various research fields."

The study was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

"Meteoroid bombardment of the Earth-Moon system must have caused catastrophic damage to the terrestrial ecosphere," the researchers added in the study's abstract.

The researchers analyzed 59 lunar craters using the Terrain Camera on the Kaguya spacecraft to come up with their findings. The craters that were analyzed all had diameters of 12 miles or more.

The experts also noted the 110 trillion pounds of meteoroids that impacted the Earth and moon were "approximately 30–60 times more than the Chicxulub impact.".... MORE