A small asteroid, named 2024 RW1, safely entered Earth's atmosphere early on September 5th, creating a spectacular fireball over Luzon. Measuring approximately a meter in diameter, the asteroid was detected by NASA and ESA's Near-Earth Object teams before its atmospheric entry.
The Catalina Sky Survey, a NASA-funded observatory, first observed the asteroid in space. US government sensors subsequently detected it, and it was included in NASA's fireball data. This marks the ninth asteroid that humankind has successfully spotted before impact.
Despite concerns about Tropical Storm Enteng interfering with fireball observations, the sky was clear when 2024 RW1 entered the atmosphere, allowing numerous people to capture the event on their phones.
The International Meteor Organization compiled social media videos from various locations in Luzon, showcasing the descending asteroid and its subsequent explosion, which illuminated the night sky with a bright orange glow. One particularly striking video, shared by Marvin Coloma on Facebook, has garnered significant attention online.
It's estimated that asteroids of this size hit Earth approximately every two weeks. While this event was harmless, it serves as a reminder of the constant cosmic activity happening around our planet.
The last catastrophic asteroid collision occurred approximately 66 million years ago, resulting in the extinction of 76% of all species on Earth, including nonavian dinosaurs. The asteroid, measuring around 12 kilometers in diameter, struck the Yucatán Peninsula with devastating force.
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