Fireball / Atmospheric Entry 3D Explorer vs Chelyabinsk Meteor 3D Explorer
freetoolonline.com editorial team
Both pages teach a real atmospheric-entry number in one page load - 0 MB installed, USD 0, no account. The Fireball / Atmospheric Entry 3D Explorer lets you set the diameter, speed, and angle YOURSELF for any body; the Chelyabinsk Meteor 3D Explorer replays the ONE real 15 February 2013 event on its own actual timeline with no sliders.
The numbers side by side
| Aspect | Fireball / Atmospheric Entry Explorer | Chelyabinsk Meteor Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Install size | 0 MB - runs in the browser | 0 MB - runs in the browser |
| Price | USD 0 | USD 0 |
| Diameter | Your choice, 1-1,000 m (slider) | Fixed ~18 m (NASA CNEOS) |
| Entry speed | Your choice, 11.2-72 km/s (slider) | Fixed 18.6 km/s (NASA CNEOS) |
| Entry angle | Your choice, 10-90 degrees (slider) | Fixed ~18 deg (NASA CNEOS) |
| What it answers | Where does a body of THIS size and speed start to ablate, and what outcome band results | What actually happened over Chelyabinsk on 15 Feb 2013, second by second |
Where the Fireball / Atmospheric Entry Explorer wins
The Fireball / Atmospheric Entry Explorer wins when the question is "what if" - it is the only page on the site where you choose the diameter, speed, and angle yourself and see the model's outcome for that exact combination, including bodies much smaller or much larger than the Chelyabinsk case.
Where the Chelyabinsk Meteor Explorer wins
The Chelyabinsk Meteor Explorer wins when the question is "what actually happened" - it replays one real, well-documented event on its own timeline with a brightness curve and airburst, which a parametric sandbox does not attempt to do for any single case.
A reasonable rule
As a reasonable rule, use the Fireball / Atmospheric Entry Explorer first to explore how diameter, speed, and angle change the outcome in general, then open the Chelyabinsk Meteor Explorer to see the specific real event that the "Chelyabinsk-class airburst" outcome band is named after.
See how to use the Fireball / Atmospheric Entry 3D Explorer for a step-by-step walkthrough.
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