Small asteroid burns up in Earth's atmosphere over the Philippines

Small asteroid burning up in Earth's atmosphere over the Philippines has garnered significant attention from both the scientific community and the general public. On March 7, 2023, a meteorite entered the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated above the Philippine archipelago, creating a spectacular light show that was witnessed by many residents. This event illustrates not only the dynamic nature of our solar system but also highlights the potential hazards posed by Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).

Asteroids are remnants from the early solar system, composed primarily of rock and metal. When these objects enter Earth’s atmosphere at high velocities, they experience intense friction with air molecules, resulting in extreme heat that causes them to vaporize before reaching the ground. In this case, scientists estimated that the asteroid was relatively small—likely measuring just a few meters across—making it less likely to cause significant damage upon entry (Brown et al., 2021). However, such events serve as reminders of larger asteroids that could pose substantial risks if they were to collide with Earth.

The asteroid – measuring about 1 metre (3 feet) across – was spotted by astronomers in Arizona before it broke apart above the western Pacific Ocean near Luzon Island in the Philippines, on Wednesday, at around 16:46 GMT.

That means it should pose no risk to anyone on the ground. But it should provide them with a show: the asteroid may be visible as a fireball as it burns up in the sky.

The object was found only this morning, by the Catalina Sky Survey. It shared images of the object as it flew towards Earth.

This space rock, dubbed 2024 RW1, is only the ninth to have been spotted before its impact. Asteroids around this size hurtle toward Earth about every two weeks without posing any danger.

The asteroid was discovered through the Catalina Sky Survey, which is run by the University of Arizona and funded by NASA.

This incident underscores the importance of monitoring NEOs to mitigate potential threats. Various space agencies around the world have initiated programs aimed at tracking these celestial bodies to predict their paths accurately. Enhanced observation techniques and international cooperation are essential for developing effective response strategies should a significant asteroid threaten Earth in future scenarios.

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Sarah H

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