A small asteroid made a close approach to Earth on Tuesday, glowing brightly over northern Siberia as it traveled on a collision course. This event marks the first of two asteroid flybys expected this week.
The European Space Agency alerted the public about the 27-inch asteroid, designated C0WEPC5, at 4:27 a.m. ET. Although it was on a trajectory that could create a visible fireball upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, the agency reassured that the event would be harmless. Notably, this incident marks the fourth detected asteroid strike of the year and is only the 11th of its kind ever recorded. These detected strikes are referred to as “imminent impactors” by the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, which successfully identified the asteroid prior to its entry.
At 11:15 a.m. ET, the asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere, producing a spectacular fireball visible to those in Yakutia, a region in northeastern Siberia. Videos shared on social media captured this bright spectacle as it streaked across the sky, although it is still unclear whether any remnants of the asteroid made contact with the Earth’s surface.
Asteroid flybys are quite frequent, and advancements in detection technology have significantly improved our ability to spot them. Since October 2023, NASA reported that 132 known asteroids have flown closer to Earth than the moon. In total, upwards of 36,000 asteroid flybys have been documented.
Compounding the excitement of the week, another asteroid named 2020 XR is set to pass by Earth at 12:27 a.m. ET on Wednesday. This asteroid, measuring around 1,200 feet in diameter — comparable to the height of the Empire State Building — will make its approach at a safe distance of 1.37 million miles. While NASA considers any object coming within 4.6 million miles of Earth as “potentially hazardous,” officials have confirmed that 2020 XR poses no threat.
In summary, while this week’s asteroid events capture public attention, they also highlight the growing proficiency of scientists in monitoring space objects, ensuring we remain informed and protected from potential threats. The ability to detect and track these asteroids gives hope that we can continue to safeguard our planet while facing the wonders of space.