More often than not, meteor showers are nothing more than spectacular reminders of the natural wonders of our universe. But a meteor explosion that shook houses in Tuscon, Arizona reminds us of the sheer force this spectacle can bring.

According to CNN, the upcoming Geminid meteor shower gave Arizona residents a sneak preview when a large rock exploded in the atmosphere over Tuscon. The shower, which NASA calls "the 900-pound gorilla of meteor showers," officially begins Thursday.

One Arizona resident captured the "sneak-preview" on a dash cam:

 

 

While this explosion appears to have been harmless, a meteor that blew up over Chelyabinsk, Russia in February produced a shock wave powerful enough to shatter windows and knock people off their feet on the ground below. Over 1,200 people were treated for injuries related to the explosion.

Potential hazards from falling space objects, which can impact with the force of several hundred atomic bombs, recently prompted the United Nations General Assembly to consider recommendations for the creation of an international asteroid warning network and a task force of scientists charged with identifying and diverting hazardous near-Earth objects.

 

Reach Executive Producer Francesca Bessey here.