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Fireball over Siberia: Small asteroid surprises astronomers!
A small asteroid burns up over Yakutia, 12 hours after it was discovered. ESA reports spectacular impact.
Fireball over Siberia: Small asteroid surprises astronomers!
Today, Yakutia, in northeastern Russia, experienced a spectacular celestial event: an asteroid about 70 centimeters in diameter, known as C0WEPC5, broke through Earth's atmosphere at 5:15 p.m. CET and created an impressive fireball over Siberia. Just twelve hours earlier, the asteroid was discovered at the Kitt Peak Observatory in the USA and its trajectory was accurately predicted by the European Space Agency (ESA), making it possible for the first time to announce such an impact with an accuracy of +/- ten seconds, the reported crown.
A new record in asteroid exploration
The C0WEPC5 impact is the eleventh documented case in which an asteroid was discovered before contact with Earth. This was a new record, as it was the fourth such incident to be accurately predicted in 2024, as ESA's Richard Moissl explained on X. Improved detection and communication networks worldwide have helped such objects to be monitored more quickly and efficiently Giessener Anzeiger reported.
Fortunately, C0WEPC5 was harmless. It burned up completely in the atmosphere, which is typical for small asteroids. However, these events are of great importance to scientists because they can provide important insights for future impacts. In addition, they support planetary defense, an area concerned with keeping Earth safe from potentially dangerous asteroids.