On Saturday night, something extraordinary happened in people’s skies. An asteroid that was estimated to be between 10 to 15 meters in diameter streaked across the night sky in a “brilliant, fireball”. It was seen by many people all around the world.
When was it detected? Last February 12. It was just hours after entering the Earth’s atmosphere as a meteor. The asteroid that lit up the sky made the night over the English Channel as bright as day.
There is extensive knowledge about space objects that threaten Earth. But scientists are still unable to predict exactly when a new space rock will fall.
Fireball
Astronomer Krisztian Sarneczky works at the Piszkesteto station of the Konkoly Observatory in Hungary. He observed on February 12 asteroid 2023 CX1, also known as Sar2667. At first, the scientist noted that it was “nothing special.” But later he confirmed that he had detected a celestial object that entered the Earth a few hours later.
It became known that it would enter our planet’s space over the English Channel, between France and the United Kingdom. At 02:59 GMT, the space rock became a fireball. It lit up the skies and disintegrated into pieces of debris. Small parts of the rock are most likely to be found off the coast of France.
The asteroid was only 1.1 meters in diameter. It is one of the smallest celestial objects detected to date before its entry into the atmosphere.
Other visitors
The asteroid that lit up the sky is just one more. As reported by the media Science Alert there are six other similar space rocks. Their names reflect the years in which they were discovered:
2008 TC3, about four meters in diameter.
2014 AA, three meters.
2018 LA, three-meter.
2019 MO, six meters.
2022 EB5, about two meters, observed 2.5 hours before falling and also discovered by Sarneczky.
2022 WJ1, barely 1 meter.
So far, scientists detected some 31,291 near-Earth asteroids. Most of them do not pose a risk. Their dimensions are small and they will burn like fireballs when they enter the atmosphere.
Almost all near-Earth asteroids that could cause serious damage are known. In the next century there will be no problems. None of them will come close enough to cause concern.
