Russian Meteor Shower: Internet Fuels Panic, Spreads Information

When a meteor exploded over the sky of the Chelyabinsk region of Russia early Friday, Twitter played a big part in first spreading information, then spreading panic, and eventually providing reassurance that the meteor was unrelated to an asteroid due to make a near-Earth flyby on Friday.

A NASA asteroid watch unit, already on duty because of the expected close encounter with the large asteroid, worked to confirm details about the meteor.

We have also heard the reports of a fireball over Russia. We are working to confirm/determine whether it was a meteor.

— Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) February 15, 2013

While news of both the asteroid and the meteor began to spread across the web, many were concerned the two were linked. The asteroid that projected to strike is said to be much larger. This fact alone caused a bit of panic.

From meteor in Russia then to a asteroid close to earth #BASEDLIFE

— Lotus•*flow€r*•£isa (@Arredondo92) February 15, 2013

The meteor has NOTHING to do with te giant ass planet killing asteroid zipping by closer than you get to people at Walmart says the media.

— Victor Franklin (@victoronlife) February 15, 2013

Weight of the meteor that blew up over Russia and injured 700: 10 tons. Weight of the asteroid that will miss earth later today 190,000 tons

— David Wallin (@davewallin) February 15, 2013

Lots of prayer to all injured in the meteor explosion in Russia. Praying this asteroid does like they say and stays away!

— The Mortal Institute (@TMI_Institute) February 15, 2013

Looks like it may be a 'Chicken Little' kind of day. ht.ly/1Slx5K

— Dale Schultz (@drdaleschultz) February 15, 2013

Wow!! A huge meteor hit earth in Russia hurting all those people?? :( is it part of that asteroid?? Scary stuff

— Shelley~DA2014 (@Shell_eeeyyy) February 15, 2013

This is a little scary RT@cnn From a meteor in Russia... to an asteroid coming close to Earth today: on.cnn.com/Z2o5nY

— DK (@dkroz226) February 15, 2013

Asteroid n meteor in same day? World is coming to end sooner than we thought. Who should we blame? Hmm

— tevanraj (@tevanraj) February 15, 2013

What are the chances that a Russian meteor impacts earth on the same day a large asteroid misses earth by 17,000 miles. Crazyness!

— Anthony Farnell (@AnthonyFarnell) February 15, 2013

so the meteor that injured 1,000 in Russia is not the asteroid.....Media slant said no worries? that's how they control us??

— tar heel (@flamingoHeels) February 15, 2013

And this was the joke of the day that linked the two:

Why are Russian Athletes so much meteor than others? In Russia asteroid abuse is a big problem.

— Gary Hallock (@LeerlessFeeder) February 15, 2013

But scientist Bill Nye assured everyone we weren't in danger.

Asteroid 2012 DA14 & a burst over Russia. A coincidence? Probably. CNN right now. Lesson to us.

— Bill Nye (@TheScienceGuy) February 15, 2013

Elsewhere, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson assured the worried all was fine.

"We'll survive the day, I promise." -@neiltyson talks meteors and asteroids: on.today.com/15hC3qw

— TODAY(@todayshow) February 15, 2013