An asteroid named 2024 RW1 crashed into the Earth’s atmosphere just east of Luzon Island in the Philippines, creating a spectacular fireball. The 3-foot-wide asteroid was only detected a few hours before impact, making it the ninth-ever asteroid spotted before entering our atmosphere.
The asteroid was tracked by NASA’s Catalina Sky Survey and was harmless, but provided a stunning celestial display for residents in the area. When a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it generates intense heat due to rapid movement, causing it to vaporize and create a glowing trail.
Objects classified as near-earth objects (NEOs) are monitored closely, especially potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) that could cause significant damage upon impact. Despite the majority posing no immediate threat, astronomers continue to track them to assess their orbits over time.
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