Recently discovered space rock adds to the growing list of predicted asteroid impacts
Asteroid strikes earth’s atmosphere near California. In an impressive display of improving asteroid detection technology, researchers were able to monitor a small asteroid shortly before it entered the Earth’s atmosphere near the California coastline. The third similar event this year is when astronomers observed a space rock right before it hit. Asteroid strikes earth’s atmosphere near California
The asteroid, first called A11dc6D and later named officially 2024 UQ, was about three feet in size. On October 22, a spectacular fireball entered Earth’s atmosphere dramatically about 1,000 kilometers from the California coastline.
The event was recorded by NASA’s CNEOS, stating that the space object lit up the early morning skies at 3:54 am PT. During the impact in the Pacific Ocean, public observation was not possible, but the ATLAS survey continued tracking until the asteroid’s last moments.
Growing trend in asteroid detection
Peter Brown, a respected meteor expert from Western University in Ontario, Canada, emphasized the importance of this occurrence on social media platform X by stating: “This marks the 10th instance when an asteroid collision was forecasted ahead of time.”
The rise in the number of these forecasts is due to improved monitoring systems. Brown explained that surveys like ATLAS, Catalina, and Pan-Starra are becoming more prevalent due to their effectiveness.
Recent examples
This recent occurrence is similar to one that happened last month, when a different asteroid was spotted only a few hours before causing a bright explosion in the sky above the Philippines on September 5. Research technologist Jacqueline Fazekas found asteroid 2024 RW1 with the help of the NASA-supported Catalina Sky Survey in Tucson, Arizona.
The European Space Agency (ESA) verified that the Philippines asteroid was about three feet in size, and the recent impact on the California coast released slightly less energy upon entering the atmosphere.
Historical context
These current happenings become more important when contrasted with the infrequent meteorite fall in South Africa this August, which was the country’s initial one in almost 51 years. The event caused a loud noise that could be heard for kilometers and caused shaking, with debris falling into the ocean.
South Africa’s meteorite past highlights how uncommon these occurrences are, with just 51 known meteorites overall and only 22 documented falls since recording began. The last recorded meteorite fall in the country happened in Lichtenburg in 1973.
The more frequent predictions of asteroid impacts show a major improvement in Earth’s ability to defend itself from planetary threats, underscoring the importance of modern detection systems in monitoring possible celestial arrivals.
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