In a remarkable display of astronomical detection and planetary defense capabilities, a small asteroid was discovered mere hours before it slammed into Earth.
The asteroid harmlessly burned up in Earth’s atmosphere over the Philippines as it arrived with a streaking tail.
The asteroid, designated 2024 RW1, was first spotted by astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, a NASA-funded program dedicated to tracking near-Earth objects.
WATCH ASTEROID BURN UP
Measuring approximately 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter, this celestial visitor was one of the smallest asteroids ever detected before impact.
The space rock entered Earth’s atmosphere at around 1646 GMT, disintegrating over the western Pacific Ocean near Luzon Island in the Philippines. Despite its small size, the asteroid’s fiery demise created a bright fireball, potentially visible from the east coast of the Philippines.
This event marks only the ninth time in history that an asteroid has been detected prior to impact, highlighting the increasing effectiveness of Earth’s planetary defense systems. Asteroids of this size typically approach Earth about every two weeks without posing any danger.
While the asteroid’s entry into the atmosphere had the potential to create a spectacular light show, observing the event proved challenging due to weather conditions.
The presence of Tropical Storm Yagi (locally known as Enteng) in the region likely obscured visibility for ground-based observers.
The successful detection of 2024 RW1 points to the importance of ongoing efforts in planetary defense. Space agencies worldwide have prioritised the search for and tracking of near-Earth objects.
Recent milestones in this field include NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered the trajectory of a double asteroid system in 2022.
As part of the continued focus on planetary defense, NASA is developing the NEO Surveyor, an advanced infrared telescope designed to enhance our ability to detect and track potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.
Additionally, China has announced plans to launch its own asteroid deflection mission by 2030, further bolstering global efforts to protect our planet from cosmic impacts.
