{"id":10007,"date":"2024-01-24T18:10:14","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T22:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/nasa-system-predicts-impact-of-a-very-small-asteroid-over-germany\/"},"modified":"2024-01-24T18:10:14","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T22:10:14","slug":"nasa-system-predicts-impact-of-a-very-small-asteroid-over-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/nasa-system-predicts-impact-of-a-very-small-asteroid-over-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA System Predicts Impact of a Very Small Asteroid Over Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASA System Predicts Impact of a Very Small Asteroid Over Germany<\/h2>\n

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4 min read<\/p>\n

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"This<\/figure>
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This map shows the location where the small asteroid 2024 BX1 harmlessly impacted Earth\u2019s atmosphere over Germany, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) west of Berlin, on Jan. 21. <\/div>\n
NASA\/JPL-Caltech<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Scout impact assessment system calculated where and when the asteroid 2024 BX1 would impact Earth\u2019s atmosphere, providing a useful demonstration of planetary defense capability.<\/em><\/p>\n

A small asteroid about 3 feet (1 meter) in size disintegrated harmlessly over Germany on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 1:32 a.m. local time (CET). At 95 minutes before it impacted Earth\u2019s atmosphere, NASA\u2019s Scout<\/a> impact hazard assessment system, which monitors data on potential asteroid discoveries, gave advance warning as to where and when the asteroid would impact. This is the eighth time in history that a small Earth-bound asteroid has been detected while still in space, before entering and disintegrating in our atmosphere.<\/p>\n

The asteroid\u2019s impact produced a bright fireball<\/a>, or bolide, which was seen from as far away as the Czech Republic and may have scattered small meteorites on the ground at the impact site about 37 miles (60 kilometers) west of Berlin. The asteroid was later designated 2024 BX1.<\/p>\n

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While NASA reports on near-Earth objects (NEOs) of all sizes, the agency has been tasked by Congress with detecting and tracking NEOs 140 meters in size and larger that could cause significant damage on the ground if they should impact our planet. Those objects can be spotted much further in advance than small ones like 2024 BX1.<\/p>\n

Tiny asteroids like this one impact our planet from time to time. They pose no hazard to life on Earth but can provide a useful demonstration of NASA\u2019s planetary defense<\/a> capabilities such as Scout\u2019s rapid-response trajectory computation and impact alerts.<\/p>\n

How It Was Predicted<\/strong><\/p>\n

The asteroid 2024 BX1 was first observed less than three hours before its impact by Kriszti\u00e1n S\u00e1rneczky at Piszk\u00e9stet\u0151 Mountain Station of the Konkoly Observatory near Budapest, Hungary. These early observations were reported<\/a> to the Minor Planet Center<\/a> \u2013 the internationally recognized clearinghouse for the position measurements of small solar system bodies \u2013 and automatically posted on the center\u2019s Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page<\/a> so that other astronomers could make additional observations.<\/p>\n

Scout, which was developed and is operated by the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS<\/a>) at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, automatically fetched the new data from that page, deducing the object\u2019s possible trajectory and chances of impacting Earth. CNEOS calculates the orbit of every known NEO to provide assessments of potential impact hazards for the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO<\/a>) at NASA Headquarters in Washington.<\/p>\n

With three observations posted to the confirmation page over 27 minutes, Scout initially identified that an impact was possible and that additional observations were urgently needed. As astronomers across Europe reported new data to the Minor Planet Center, the asteroid\u2019s trajectory became better known and the probability of its impacting Earth significantly increased.<\/p>\n

Seventy minutes after 2024 BX1 was first spotted, Scout reported a 100% probability of Earth impact and began to narrow down the location and time. As tracking continued and more data became available over the next hour, Scout improved estimates of the time and location. Since the asteroid disintegrated over a relatively populated part of the world, many photos and videos of the fireball were posted online minutes after the event.<\/p>\n

Tracking NEOs<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first asteroid to be discovered and tracked well before impacting our planet was 2008 TC3<\/a>, which entered our atmosphere and broke up over Sudan in October 2008. That 13-foot-wide (4-meter-wide) asteroid scattered hundreds of small meteorites over the Nubian Desert.<\/p>\n

In early 2023, another tiny asteroid, designated 2023 CX1<\/a>, was detected seven hours before it entered Earth\u2019s atmosphere over northwestern France. As with 2024 BX1, Scout accurately predicted the location and time of impact.<\/p>\n

With NEO surveys becoming more sophisticated and sensitive, more of these harmless objects are being detected before entering our atmosphere, providing real exercises for NASA\u2019s planetary defense program. The details gathered from such events are helping to inform the agency\u2019s mitigation strategies<\/a> should a large and hazardous object on a collision course with our planet be detected in the future.<\/p>\n

More information about asteroids, near-Earth objects, and planetary defense at NASA can be found at:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-defense<\/a><\/p>\n

News Media Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ian J. O\u2019Neill
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-2649
ian.j.oneill@jpl.nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Karen Fox \/ Charles Blue
NASA Headquarters
karen.c.fox@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ charles.e.blue@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

2024-006\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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