Asteroid to hit Earth’s atmosphere in hours

A recently discovered asteroid will hit Earth today in the atmosphere above the Philippines.

The asteroid is currently expected to reach a speed of 39,000 miles per hour (63,000 kilometers per hour) when it streaks across the sky at 12:45 p.m. ET.

However, the relatively small, ninety-centimeter asteroid is expected to burn up in the atmosphere and its remains to crash into the sea.

Due to its enormous speed, the asteroid is expected to shine brightly and burst into a bright fireball that can be seen by people in the Philippines at 00:46 local time.

The asteroid (pictured) was discovered eight hours before it was due to hit Earth. This is the ninth time an object has been accurately detected before it enters the atmosphere.

The NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey, a project that monitors objects near Earth, discovered CAQTDL2 in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

The asteroid was discovered eight hours before it was due to hit Earth. This is only the ninth time scientists have accurately reported an asteroid striking before it hit.

Jacqueline Fazekas of the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona discovered the asteroid and posted photos as it approached the atmosphere.

Alan Fitzsimmons of Queen’s University Belfast in Ireland said New scientist that the speed at which the asteroid will hit Earth is not unusual.

“Don’t be fooled by Hollywood movies where you see the thing coming through the sky screaming and you have time to run out of the house, get the cat, jump in the car and drive somewhere. You don’t have time for that,” he said.

Scientists have assured that due to the asteroid’s small size, it will not cause any damage if it hits and that people will not need to leave the area.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that the asteroid will impact near the island of Luzon. after on X, adding that ‘the object is harmless, but people in the area may see a spectacular fireball!’

The asteroid is expected to impact east of the Philippines on Wednesday at around 12:45 EST.

According to a 2017 study, only asteroids with a diameter of at least 18 meters are potentially deadly if they fly toward Earth.

The early detection of the approaching asteroid is unique, as very few have been seen before they enter Earth’s atmosphere. Still, experts say it could be a sign of things to come.

“The really positive thing about this is that the survey telescopes are now good enough to detect these approaching objects and give us a warning,” Fitzsimmons told New Scientist.

This means that if a large space rock were to hit the planet and pose a danger to humans, scientists would have ample time to warn people to leave the area.

“This is actually a really nice demonstration that the current measurement systems are doing a really good job,” Fitzsimmons continues.

‘We estimate that on average one small asteroid is now detected each year before it hits the atmosphere. And the measurement methods are only getting better.’

The ESA added in its message that “this detection is actually great news! This is … a sign of our improving planetary defence capabilities.”