Asteroid That Exploded Above Niagra Falls Confirmed to Be the Smallest Space Rock Ever Measured

A 20-inch asteroid exploded above Niagara Falls in 2022, marking the smallest space rock ever accurately measured.

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 29 November 2024 15:30 IST

Asteroid That Exploded Above Niagra Falls Confirmed to Be the Smallest Space Rock Ever Measured

Photo Credit: Pixabay/myshoun

The asteroid was detected by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona

Highlights

Asteroid 2022 WJ1 was just 20 inches wide, the smallest measured.
It exploded in a green fireball visible across Ontario and the U.S.
Observations helped refine asteroid detection and analysis methods.

An asteroid, identified as 2022 WJ1, exploded in a bright green fireball above southern Ontario on November 19, 2022, according to a new study published in The Planetary Science Journal. The space rock, which was only 20 inches wide, is the smallest asteroid ever measured accurately, as confirmed by researchers. It was first detected just hours before it entered the Earth's atmosphere and illuminated the sky near Niagara Falls for approximately 10 seconds, as per reports.

Asteroid Detection and Impact Details

The asteroid was detected by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, who successfully predicted its trajectory and location of entry. Its disintegration in the lower atmosphere was attributed to intense air friction, leading to the fireball that was visible across southern Ontario and parts of the United States, including New York and Ohio. According to The New York Times, the event also caused a loud sonic boom.

Observations of the asteroid were made using equipment such as the 4.3-metre Lowell Discovery Telescope and Western University's meteor camera network, as per the study. These tools captured the asteroid's brightness and trajectory, enabling scientists to determine its size, which ranged between 16 and 24 inches.

Samsung Wins Patent for a Tri-Fold Smartphone With Specialised Barrier Layer for Improved Durability

Advancements in Asteroid Monitoring

Study co-author Denis Vida, a meteor physics specialist at Western University, said in a statement that the unprecedented use of both telescopic and fireball camera data allowed for more accurate analysis of the asteroid's size and composition. This approach marks the first instance of such a detailed comparison, according to the researchers.

The study's lead author, Teddy Kareta, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory, emphasised in the publication that this method could enhance future asteroid monitoring and characterisation efforts.

Meteorite Recovery Challenges

Although fragments of 2022 WJ1 were expected to land in Lake Ontario, none have been recovered so far, as per a NASA report. Phil McCausland, a planetary scientist at Western University, suggested that meteorite pieces may still surface over time, as quoted in the study. Researchers continue to search for potential remnants to further investigate the asteroid's properties.

Ryugu Sample Study Reveals Earth Microbes Colonising Asteroid Material

Sea Turtles Reveal Hidden Seagrass Meadows for Better Marine Conservation

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.