One-meter asteroid creates brilliant flash visible for 700 kilometers
Yakutia, Russia, Dec 3
A one-meter asteroid dramatically entered Earth’s atmosphere over Yakutia on Tuesday evening, creating a brilliant flash visible up to 700 kilometers away. The fiery descent, captured in numerous viral videos, turned the night sky into a dazzling spectacle and drew attention from both scientists and residents across the region.
The event occurred around 7:00 p.m. Moscow time, with the asteroid streaking across the sky between the cities of Lensk and Olekminsky in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Witnesses reported a bright light that lasted approximately five seconds as the space rock burned up in the atmosphere.
Researchers from Ural Federal University had anticipated the asteroid’s approach and closely monitored its trajectory. Social media users noted that scientists predicted the exact time of the event at 7:14:53 p.m. Moscow time. The asteroid, estimated to be around 70 centimeters in diameter, posed no threat to people or property, according to experts.
🇷🇺…and in case this week hasn't been eventful enough for you, here is an asteroid landing in #Yakutia
— 𝕏 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@cheguwera) December 3, 2024
🇷🇺 Several videos captured the fall of a one-meter-long asteroid over Yakutia, #Russia.
Scientists had predicted that the asteroid would enter Earth's atmosphere on Tuesday… pic.twitter.com/xxyaBlmw29
Videos of the asteroid’s descent quickly went viral, showcasing the spectacular light show across the dark sky. The brightness of the flare allowed it to be seen from vast distances, captivating observers up to 700 kilometers away.
This incident draws parallels to previous meteor events in Russia, most notably the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor. However, the Chelyabinsk event involved a much larger asteroid that caused significant damage and injured over 1,000 people due to a powerful shockwave that shattered windows. In contrast, the Yakutia asteroid was considerably smaller and burned up harmlessly in the atmosphere.
Local experts are currently analyzing the asteroid’s characteristics and the collected footage to gain insights into its composition and trajectory. Such occurrences highlight the importance of monitoring near-Earth objects, many of which go undetected due to their small size or distant paths.
In Yakutia, Russia, presumably, an asteroid has fallen. This was reported by eyewitnesses on social networks, and they also published footage of the falling object.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) December 3, 2024
I wonder what the people of Yakutia thought about it. pic.twitter.com/FEMu2guaZW
Residents in Yakutia and surrounding areas expressed awe at witnessing the celestial event. The Yakutia asteroid serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of space and the ongoing need for vigilance in tracking objects that come close to Earth.
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