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Tiny Asteroid To Hit Earth Over Siberia Today – Here's What To Know
IFL Science ^ | December 03, 2024 | Staff

Posted on 12/03/2024 7:56:17 AM PST by Red Badger

The location the asteroid will burn over.

Image Credit: PorcupenWorks/Shutterstock.com, modified by IFLScience

In a matter of hours, a small asteroid will burn over the Siberian skies. This is only the 11th time that an asteroid has been predicted to hit our planet before it actually happened, but it shows that the system of planetary defense is working!

At around 4:15 pm UTC today, the asteroid will burn in the atmosphere. The object is tiny, about 70 centimeters (27.6 inches) in diameter. It's not the smallest known asteroid – a previously predicted impactor holds that record for now. It's still pretty small and a testament to the observatories that can spot these tiny rocks and the software developed to quickly work out where and when they are going to hit.

The location the asteroid will burn over.

Image Credit: PorcupenWorks/Shutterstock.com, modified by IFLScience

In a matter of hours, a small asteroid will burn over the Siberian skies. This is only the 11th time that an asteroid has been predicted to hit our planet before it actually happened, but it shows that the system of planetary defense is working!

At around 4:15 pm UTC today, the asteroid will burn in the atmosphere. The object is tiny, about 70 centimeters (27.6 inches) in diameter. It's not the smallest known asteroid – a previously predicted impactor holds that record for now. It's still pretty small and a testament to the observatories that can spot these tiny rocks and the software developed to quickly work out where and when they are going to hit.


TOPICS: Astronomy; History; Military/Veterans; Science; Weather
KEYWORDS: 70centimeters; asteroid; astronomy; catastrophism; chelyabinsk; impact; science; siberia; tunguska
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To: No name given
I doubt it’ll do much damage.

It was due about 15 minutes ago, 11:15 EST. At 0.7 meters diameter it will almost certainly burn up in the atmosphere, though some pieces may impact. It will be very close to midnight local time in Siberia when it enters the earth's atmosphere.

21 posted on 12/03/2024 8:30:22 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets
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To: fwdude

Most meteors you can see are the size of a single grain of sand or smaller. Anything baseball sized or larger is a major event.


22 posted on 12/03/2024 8:30:34 AM PST by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Red Badger

They should remember to wear their hard hats.


23 posted on 12/03/2024 8:34:28 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: Red Badger

Siberia seems to be a meteor magnet.


24 posted on 12/03/2024 8:35:14 AM PST by wildcard_redneck
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To: Red Badger

Isn’t Siberia ON the Earth? But it’s going to hit Earth OVER Siberia? Which is it?


25 posted on 12/03/2024 8:36:17 AM PST by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: Red Badger

Isn’t Siberia ON the Earth? But it’s going to hit Earth OVER Siberia? Which is it?


26 posted on 12/03/2024 8:39:05 AM PST by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: Red Badger
"planetary defense"

Wrong phrase...it should be asteroid detection...defense implies an ability to deflect or destroy said object.
27 posted on 12/03/2024 8:39:29 AM PST by The Louiswu (Pray for Peace in the world.)
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To: Red Badger

“but it shows that the system of planetary defense is working!”

No, it shows detection is working. At this point there is no defense.


28 posted on 12/03/2024 8:42:34 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI..)
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To: MayflowerMadam

They don’t know if any of it will survive the plunge into the atmosphere at 50k mph..............


29 posted on 12/03/2024 8:43:23 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

Yakutia looks hugh!


30 posted on 12/03/2024 8:43:51 AM PST by wardaddy (If the GOPe didn’t go wobbly slightest incoming flak we’d always win)
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To: Red Badger

Asteroids are to Russia like tornadoes are to trailer parks.


31 posted on 12/03/2024 8:43:53 AM PST by Demiurge2 (Define your terms!)
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To: Jan_Sobieski

Tunguska was the same day as Teslas experiment.


32 posted on 12/03/2024 8:45:12 AM PST by BigEdLB ( Let’s go Brandon)
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To: wildcard_redneck

Okay by me!............let them have them all!................


33 posted on 12/03/2024 8:45:13 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

OK. That kinda makes sense. THX


34 posted on 12/03/2024 8:45:16 AM PST by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: MayflowerMadam

There will be meteor hunters out to find any fragments, even if they are just an inch or less. They are valuable for both scientific and collectible reasons..............


35 posted on 12/03/2024 8:49:34 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: wardaddy

It is!................


36 posted on 12/03/2024 8:49:59 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

Why is Coordinated Universal Time abbreviated UTC?

Asteroids seem to enjoy smashing down into Siberia.


37 posted on 12/03/2024 8:50:15 AM PST by bgill
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To: Telepathic Intruder
Actually, many meteors that we see entering the atmosphere are much larger than baseballs. While camping, I've routinely seen "fireballs" caused by these larger chunks.

A meteoroid (/ˈmiːtiərɔɪd/ MEE-tee-ə-royd)[1] is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. Meteoroids are distinguished as objects significantly smaller than asteroids, ranging in size from grains to objects up to a meter wide.
(Rubin, Alan E.; Grossman, Jeffrey N. (January 2010). "Meteorite and meteoroid: New comprehensive definitions". Meteoritics & Planetary Science. )

38 posted on 12/03/2024 8:52:10 AM PST by fwdude (Why is there a "far/radical right," but damned if they'll admit that there is a far/radical left?)
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To: desertsolitaire

That was my question. I guess ‘defense’ just means knowing that it’s coming so we can run away...


39 posted on 12/03/2024 8:52:11 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: V_TWIN

Leave the Yugo and get your yak outta there.


40 posted on 12/03/2024 8:52:16 AM PST by bgill
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