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What protects the earth from most hits by objects from space is the atmosphere. A meteoroid may hit earths atmosphere at a speed of 50 to 60,000 miles an hour, Even with how thin earth's atmosphere is at high altitudes, there is still enough atmosphere to create enough friction on the rock to heat it to incandescence (like a light bulb filament). More than enough heat is generated to burn the rock to a mote of dust before it ever hits the ground. But in your question, you asked what prevents asteroids from hitting the earth. Well, nothing - something the size of an asteroid would burn only partially on the way down, and would hit earth intact. The size becomes important here. If it's the size of a schoolbus, it will make a big crater (if it hits on land) and get lots of news coverage. That's about it. But if it's 6-8 miles in diameter, it will wreak catastrophic destruction and mayhem here on earth - even if it lands in an ocean.

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14y ago

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What planet got hit by an asteroid?

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Is the asteroid belt a gas or a solid?

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