An asteroid with a diameter of 70 centimeters or less is on a collision course with Earth. The asteroid, named C0WEPC5, is expected to burn over northern Siberia once it enters Earth’s atmosphere. This is only the eleventh time an asteroid impact on Earth has been successfully predicted, and only the fourth time this year.
The impact is expected around 9:45 pm IST, with a possible margin of error of five minutes. Experts have assured that the event poses no threat and is likely to produce a stunning fireball without causing significant damage. Small asteroids like these often decay harmlessly because their size typically makes them unable to withstand the intense heat of atmospheric entry.
The European Space Agency announced the imminent approach of this asteroid on the microblogging site, which is likely to produce a beautiful fireball in the sky in about seven hours at approximately 16:15 +/- 05 min UTC (17:15 +/- 5 min CET). over northern Siberia.
The special asteroid was discovered by the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. As already mentioned, this is the fourth asteroid that will hit Earth. The first was in January, when we saw a brilliant streak of fireballs across the sky of Berlin, leaving behind exceptionally rare meteorites. In September, another fireball exploded over the Philippines, followed by one over the Pacific in October.
However, since the expected impact area is sparsely populated, there aren’t many opportunities to get great shots, but for enthusiasts, this is a great opportunity to witness the event.
The first asteroid was discovered in 2008 using radar technology, which allowed scientists to track its trajectory and collect valuable data about its size, shape and composition. This was a significant milestone in our ability to monitor Near Earth Objects (NEOs). The next one wasn’t discovered until six years later. Early detection of these cosmic objects will help with distraction or at least save lives.
Today, several international programs and observatories are dedicated to tracking asteroids. These include NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Near-Earth Object Coordination Center (NEOCC), and various ground-based telescopes around the world.