Here’s the .pdf version of a new paper on the Tungusta cosmic body, and it strongly suggests that the body was an asteroid.

Probable asteroidal origin of the Tunguska Cosmic Body

Some quotes from the abstract and the conclusion:

“We found that the probability that the TCB (Tungusta Cosmic Body) moved on an asteroidal path is higher than it moved on a cometary one, 83% to 17%, respectively”

“…taking into account that our sample of possible TCB orbits is much larger and statistically more robust than previous ones, we can conclude that our study based on combining interplanetary and atmospheric dynamic considerations gives as the most probable an asteroidal origin for the Tungusta cosmic body of June 30, 1908.”

P. Farinella(*), L. Foschini, Ch. Froeschlé, R. Gonczi, T.J. Jopek, G. Longo, P. Michel:

Astronomy and Astrophysics. Accepted for the publication.

Admittedly, this is pretty dense material, at least for a novice like me. Definitely not the Reader’s Digest version…have to print this baby out and study it a bit…