Asteroid COWEPC5 Burns Up Over Siberia at 16:15 UTC, Fourth 'Imminent Impactor' of 2024

Dec 3, 2024, 03:11 PM

An asteroid approximately 70 centimeters in diameter, designated as COWEPC5, entered Earth's atmosphere over northern Siberia today at around 16:15 UTC, creating a bright fireball observed by residents in Yakutia, Russia. The European Space Agency reported that the asteroid was detected just hours before its impact, marking the fourth 'imminent impactor' of 2024. Due to its small size, it posed no danger and burned up completely upon entry, though fragments may have landed between Olekminsk and Lensk. Footage of the event was captured by eyewitnesses and shared on social media.