Comet likely culprit in Tunguska blast

Clouds over London following the event are similar to those formed from today’s shuttle plumes

Night-shining clouds created after space shuttle launches may offer clues into the cause of the Tunguska event, a mysterious blast which rocked southern Siberia more than a century ago.

Thin clouds have appeared at abnormally high altitudes over polar regions following space shuttle launches on several occasions in the past decade.