Since asteroids are often small objects, they frequently do not cause any harm when they burn across the sky. However, such an occurrence might produce a game-changing discovery in the field of astrophysics. Recently, a tiny asteroid exploded in the sky over Ontario, Canada, providing the ideal testing environment for NASA’s Scout impact hazard assessment system. Asteroid 2022 WJ1 was found by space astronomers on November 18 in the late evening, and it burned up a few hours later.
The Real-Life Test
NASA focuses on planetary defense alongside other initiatives, with two essential components being detection and tracking potentially hazardous asteroids to foretell the future impact. And testing the systems in a real-world situation is always beneficial, like the Ontario incident. The 2022 WJ1 asteroid, which is only three feet in size and presented little hazard, was found and observed by NASA only 3.5 hours prior to the impact. NASA kept track of the asteroid and correctly identified the region it will burn.
The Discovery and Observation
The asteroid was found by the NASA-funded space agency Catalina Sky Survey. Within seven minutes, Scout had calculated that there was a 25% probability it would catch fire off the coast of North America, somewhere between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. A team of astronomers at Kansas’ Fairpoint Observatory soon made more observations. Scout was able to confirm the timing and location the small asteroid was going to strike the earth using information gathered from 46 sightings. They also projected that within two hours, the bolide will be visible. The researchers in Lake Ontario were able to become ready for the cosmic body crash because to these observations. They even followed the tiny meteorites that were discharged as the asteroid split apart after the incident. NASA now has a great deal more faith that their planetary defense community and systems can accurately estimate and inform about the potential impact of a collision with a larger cosmic object as a result of this test’s success.
