An asteroid, recognized as 2022 WJ1, exploded in a shiny inexperienced fireball above southern Ontario on November 19, 2022, in response to a brand new examine revealed in The Planetary Science Journal. The area rock, which was solely 20 inches extensive, is the smallest asteroid ever measured precisely, as confirmed by researchers. It was first detected simply hours earlier than it entered the Earth’s environment and illuminated the sky close to Niagara Falls for roughly 10 seconds, as per experiences.
Asteroid Detection and Impression Particulars
The asteroid was detected by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, who efficiently predicted its trajectory and placement of entry. Its disintegration within the decrease environment was attributed to intense air friction, resulting in the fireball that was seen throughout southern Ontario and components of america, together with New York and Ohio. In accordance to The New York Occasions, the occasion additionally brought about a loud sonic growth.
Observations of the asteroid had been made utilizing tools such because the 4.3-metre Lowell Discovery Telescope and Western College’s meteor digital camera community, as per the examine. These instruments captured the asteroid’s brightness and trajectory, enabling scientists to find out its dimension, which ranged between 16 and 24 inches.
Developments in Asteroid Monitoring
Examine co-author Denis Vida, a meteor physics specialist at Western College, mentioned in an announcement that the unprecedented use of each telescopic and fireball digital camera knowledge allowed for extra correct evaluation of the asteroid’s dimension and composition. This strategy marks the primary occasion of such an in depth comparability, in response to the researchers.
The examine’s lead writer, Teddy Kareta, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory, emphasised within the publication that this technique may improve future asteroid monitoring and characterisation efforts.
Meteorite Restoration Challenges
Though fragments of 2022 WJ1 had been anticipated to land in Lake Ontario, none have been recovered thus far, as per a NASA report. Phil McCausland, a planetary scientist at Western College, instructed that meteorite items should floor over time, as quoted within the examine. Researchers proceed to seek for potential remnants to additional examine the asteroid’s properties.
