Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A small asteroid created a striking display over Yakutia, a remote region in Russia’s far east, as it entered Earth’s atmosphere early Wednesday. Residents witnessed a fiery spectacle as the space rock disintegrated, producing a “fireball” effect.
The asteroid, temporarily designated C0WEPC5, was about 70 cm (27.5 inches) in diameter. Discovered only 12 hours before its descent, it was predicted to burn harmlessly upon atmospheric entry, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
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ESA highlighted its observational network’s accuracy, which predicted the asteroid’s impact to within +/- 10 seconds. The asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere at 1:15 a.m. local time (1615 GMT) and burned out over Yakutia without causing damage.
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Yakutia’s residents, particularly in Olekminsk and Lensk districts, shared videos of the event online. Footage showed the asteroid resembling a bright ball of fire streaking across the sky. Some described seeing a comet-like tail followed by a flash.
Authorities in Yakutia placed emergency services on alert before the asteroid’s descent. The region’s emergencies ministry confirmed no damage or injuries were reported following the event.
Astronomer Alan Fitzsimmons of Queen’s University in Belfast described the event as a small asteroid but still spectacular, visible over hundreds of kilometers. Such events often serve as a reminder of Earth’s constant exposure to space debris.
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NASA credited the University of Arizona’s Bok telescope for identifying the asteroid. This early detection enabled scientists and authorities to monitor the descent closely and predict its impact area accurately.
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The fireball was the first of two asteroid flybys expected this week. Such events, while scientifically valuable, also provide natural light shows that captivate observers on the ground.