Seen: Asteroid almost hits Earth, lights up Siberian sky before impact (Image credit: X)

A small asteroid called C0WEPC5 illuminated this Siberian night sky early on December 4, 2024, when it entered Earth’s atmosphere and burnt up harmlessly.
The European Space Agency (ESA) reported that the asteroid, about 70 centimeters in diameter, produced a bright fireball that was visible over the Siberian tundra at around 4:15 a.m. (local time).
Discovery and impact
Astronomers first spotted the asteroid a few hours before its descent using the University of Arizona’s Bok Telescope and the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey.
NASA’s Scout System made predictions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) that confirmed the asteroid’s trajectory and impending entry into the atmosphere.

According to Earthsky, the asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 15.5 kilometers per second and an angle of 58 degrees, approaching from the southeast. Sightings were reported in Yakutsk, Mirny, Norilsk and Dudinka. Although small fragments may have reached the ground, there was no danger to the region.
Alan Fitzsimmons of Queen’s University Belfast noted that while objects of this size are harmless, their early detection is evidence of advances in surveillance techniques.
According to New Scientist, he added: “It’s a small one, but still quite spectacular,” and described the event as a victory for science and an impressive display for spectators in Siberia.
C0WEPC5 is the fourth asteroid this year to be classified as an “imminent impact” before hitting Earth. Such early detections are becoming increasingly common due to improved observation options. This event marks the 11th known impending impactor since the first discovery in 2008.
The asteroid’s fiery descent occurred near the infamous location Tunguska event In 1908, a much larger asteroid caused a massive explosion that leveled 830 square miles of forest.
The Tunguska impact inspired June 30 to be declared International Asteroid Day to raise awareness of asteroid monitoring efforts.
Both NASA and ESA now have extensive asteroid detection and tracking programs, collaborating with observatories and amateur astronomers around the world.
According to New Scientist, such discoveries could lead to advances in deflecting larger objects or evacuating potential impact zones.