A small asteroid named 2024 RW1 safely disintegrated in the Earth’s atmosphere above the Philippines, creating a bright “fireball” flash. The asteroid, measuring about 1 meter across, was spotted by astronomers in Arizona before breaking apart above the western Pacific Ocean near Luzon Island. This event was only the ninth time that an asteroid on a collision course with Earth has been detected before impact. NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office reported that multiple sensors detected the asteroid’s safe impact, confirming that it did not pose any danger. The asteroid was discovered through the Catalina Sky Survey, funded by NASA, and was expected to impact the atmosphere at a speed of 17.6 km per second. While small asteroids like 2024 RW1 are rarely detected before impact, the ESA reassures that most asteroids in our solar system have been identified and none of them pose a risk of impact. Experts emphasize that Hollywood movies are misleading in portraying asteroids and comets as visible and avoidable hazards, as the speed at which they approach Earth leaves no time for evasive action. The event prompted excitement on social media, with people sharing pictures and videos of the fiery spectacle in the sky. The successful detection and tracking of asteroids by astronomers and space agencies highlight the importance of planetary defense efforts to monitor and mitigate potential threats from near-Earth objects.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
