Asteroid burning up in the atmosphere above Siberia">
An asteroid about 70 centimeters in size was seen by scientists just hours before it burned up harmlessly in the sky above Siberia.
The European Space Agency (ESA) warned people in Siberia about the asteroid’s bright light in the sky at 11.15 pm local time.
Astronomer Alan Fitzsimmons from the UK said the small asteroid posed no danger but would create a bright fireball in the sky.
Scientists can now detect small asteroids early, like the one named C0WEPC5, the fourth predicted to hit the Earth this year.
Early detection allows astronomers to study asteroids and collect fragments for research. If we find larger dangerous asteroids approaching Earth, we may be able to change their path or evacuate areas at risk.
NASA and ESA track asteroids with telescopes to understand and predict their orbits better.
The asteroid was spotted by NASA’s ATLAS system, giving scientists a week’s warning of its impact.
Fitzsimmons said it was a win for science and a distraction for people in Siberia.
Vocabulary List:
- Asteroid /ˈæs.tə.rɔɪd/ (noun): A small rocky body orbiting the sun often found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
- Harmlessly /ˈhɑːrmləslɪ/ (adverb): In a way that does not cause harm or injury.
- Detection /dɪˈtɛk.ʃən/ (noun): The action or process of identifying the presence of something.
- Fragment /ˈfræɡ.mənt/ (noun): A small part broken or separated from something.
- Orbit /ˈɔːr.bɪt/ (noun): The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star planet or moon.
- Evacuate /ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt/ (verb): To remove someone from a place of danger to a safer location.
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