Asteroid’s Fiery Show Lights Up Night Sky in Russia’s Yakutia
Residents of Russia’s remote Yakutia region were treated to a stunning celestial display early Wednesday when an asteroid streaked across the night sky, creating a bright fireball before burning up in the atmosphere.
Locals in the Olekminsk and Lensk districts reported seeing a tail resembling a comet and a brilliant flash around 1:15 a.m. The spectacle was the result of a 70-centimeter-wide asteroid entering Earth’s atmosphere, officials said.
The Yakutia emergencies ministry confirmed that all official bodies had been on alert as the asteroid approached, but no damage was reported after its descent. “Residents were able to observe a tail similar to a comet and a flash,” the ministry said.
The European Space Agency (ESA) noted that the asteroid was spotted about 12 hours before its fiery descent, thanks to observations from astronomers worldwide. “Our alert system was able to predict this impact to within plus or minus 10 seconds,” the ESA shared on social media.
Astronomer Alan Fitzsimmons from Queen’s University in Belfast had predicted the event, stating that while the asteroid was small, “it will still be quite spectacular, visible for hundreds of kilometers.”
This cosmic event provided a rare and awe-inspiring sight for those lucky enough to witness it, reminding us of the wonders that space can bring to our night skies.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
