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70 cm Asteroid COWEPC5 Burns Up Over Yakutia After Detection Hours Before

Dec 3, 2024, 09:13 PM

A small asteroid approximately 70 centimeters in diameter, designated as COWEPC5, entered Earth's atmosphere over northern Siberia on December 3, 2024, at approximately 16:15 UTC. Detected only about 12 hours prior by astronomers, the asteroid burned up harmlessly upon entry, creating a bright fireball that lit up the sky over Yakutia for about five seconds. The event occurred between the towns of Olekminsk and Lensk. No damages or injuries were reported, and scientists from the European Space Agency confirmed that the space rock posed no danger due to its small size.