Asteroid spectacle over Yakutia lights up Russian skies
On Tuesday, in Yakutia, a region of eastern Russia, an asteroid designated as C0WEPC5 fell. According to information provided by the Emergency Situations Department of Yakutia, the incident did not pose a threat to the health or life of the residents.
9:42 AM EST, December 4, 2024
Also on Tuesday, in the Far East of Russia, Yakutia experienced an asteroid designated C0WEPC5. The event occurred around 12:15 PM Eastern Time and lasted only a few seconds, but its spectacular nature was captured in numerous photos and videos, which quickly gained popularity on social media.
Residents of the Olekminskij and Lenskij regions witnessed a comet-like flash in the sky as the object passed through the atmosphere, leaving a bright trail behind. This phenomenon sparked great interest and enriched the local community with a unique memory.
Asteroid fell in Russia
Despite the spectacular nature of the phenomenon, the Yakutia authorities, including the Emergency Situations Department, assured that the incident did not pose a threat to the health or life of the population. According to reports, the asteroid did not cause any significant damage in the region.
As reported by Radio ZET, this event confirmed a previous alert issued by the European Space Agency (ESA). The agency had warned that an object with a diameter of approximately 28 inches could enter the atmosphere but emphasized that it did not pose a threat to Earth or its inhabitants.
The ESA statement noted that the asteroid impact did not have the potential to cause damage and likely created a spectacular fireball in the sky over northern Siberia.
Alan Fitzsimmons from Queen’s University Belfast, in a conversation with "New Scientist," noted that the issuance of the prior warning in this case is indicative of the increasing effectiveness of detection systems for such objects before they enter Earth’s atmosphere.
