Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A small asteroid, designated 2024 RW1, was discovered just hours before it entered Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated over the Philippines. The object was detected by the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, a NASA-funded program focused on tracking near-Earth objects.
The asteroid, approximately 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter, burned up harmlessly over Luzon Island in the Philippines at around 1646 GMT. Despite its small size, its atmospheric entry created a bright fireball visible from parts of the country.
This event marked the ninth time in history that an asteroid was detected before it impacted Earth, underscoring the growing effectiveness of planetary defence systems. Such small asteroids typically approach Earth every two weeks without posing any threat.
Observing the asteroid’s fiery descent was challenging due to the presence of Tropical Storm Yagi in the region, which likely obscured visibility for many ground-based observers in the Philippines.
The successful detection of 2024 RW1 highlights the importance of continued efforts in planetary defence. NASA and other space agencies are focused on identifying and tracking near-Earth objects to mitigate potential threats.
NASA has made significant advancements in planetary defence, including the 2022 DART mission, which successfully altered the path of a double asteroid system. These milestones contribute to global efforts to safeguard Earth from cosmic impacts.
NASA is developing the NEO Surveyor, a next-generation infrared telescope designed to enhance asteroid detection. China has also announced plans for an asteroid deflection mission by 2030, further strengthening international defence against space hazards.