Asteroid hit Canada hours after discovery
Astronomers noticed an asteroid simply hours earlier than it impacted with Earth this morning (November 19, 2022), close to Lake Erie. This isn’t the first time this yr astronomers have found a rock from space simply hours earlier than it hit Earth. However this time, it impacted over a populated space, crossing the skies of Toronto, Canada. So we’ve got video and witnesses who stated they noticed, heard and felt the impression.
Ye Quanzhi, a College of Maryland astronomer who research asteroids, comets and meteors, reported on Twitter at 1:13 a.m. EST on November 19:
Seems like a space rock goes to fall into Lake Erie space in ~2 hours (about 3:30 am EST)
He shared the link for NASA’s Heart for Close to Earth Object Research Hazard Evaluation web page. The article, C8FF042, is now faraway from the web page as a result of it has struck Earth and is subsequently not a menace.
Exact prediction
At 2:29 a.m. EST, Richard Moissl tweeted that the asteroid ought to impression round 8:26 UTC, which interprets to three:26 a.m. EST. That turned out to be extremely correct, as cameras round Toronto captured the bolide at 3:25 and three:26 a.m. The CN Tower cam in Toronto was one of many cameras that noticed the asteroid’s practically horizontal entry.
One other #imminent_impactor has been noticed ?
Possible lower than 1 metre in diameter, it will develop into a reasonably and innocent fireball to look at. #C8FF042
Predicted time of atmospheric entry is 8:26 UTC, over the nice lakes. pic.twitter.com/51F2YmtwBu— Richard Moissl (@Richard_M_F) November 19, 2022
Effectively, here is a BEAUTIFUL view of the bolide from the digital camera that appears up on the Tower… pic.twitter.com/cxl1lrVeM8
— Scott Sutherland, Science Author (he/him) (@ScottWx_TWN) November 19, 2022
Witnesses to the asteroid
Fortuitously, the space rock was lower than a meter in measurement. Influence ought to have been round Brantford, Ontario. That’s north of Lake Erie, west of Buffalo, NY, east of Detroit and southwest of Toronto. With such a populated space, many individuals had the possibility to see the fireball entry into the environment. Individuals on twitter reported seeing the intense flash of sunshine, together with the sound of atmospheric entry and even shaking, most likely from the sonic growth. Twitter consumer @TimsDoubleD said:
I heard it and felt it nearly like my home moved. Thought a generator exploded close by.
Twitter consumer @SchefflerKen said:
This might have been fascinating to see, however not less than I acquired to listen to it. I had for some purpose woken up and some seconds later the home cracked because it does when hit by a gust of wind after which there was a muffled rumble for 2 or three seconds.
Some observers reported the fireball at magnitude -10 to -20.
These few hours of lead time have been sufficient that some have been capable of seize C8FF042 with telescopes.
I OBSERVED THE METEOROID THAT JUST EXPLODED OVER LAKE ERIE (#C8FF042) WITH THE LOWELL DISCOVERY TELESCOPE WOOOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/2lJmo4udH8
— Dr. Teddy Kareta (@teddykareta) November 19, 2022
Did you see it? You may report the fireball with the American Meteor Society here.
Asteroid hit Canada now named 2022 WJ1
David Rankin found asteroid C8FF042, which the Minor Planet Heart has since named WJ1. The details about the newly found asteroid circulated on the Minor Planet Mailing Checklist (MPML). It said:
Invoice Grey has the impression level at 19 Nov 2022 8:26:54.47 UTC, lat +43.12309, lon W80.26416, which is straight over Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
Sam Deen on the MPML said:
The article could have a really grazing impression of simply 10-12 levels or so, and must be travelling WSW To ENE between Detroit and Buffalo. We must always most likely anticipate a reasonably spectacular mild present, contemplating the low angle and excessive inhabitants of the realm.
Backside line: In a single day, on November 19, 2022, a small asteroid hit Canada simply hours after discovery. Individuals round Toronto noticed, felt and heard the space rock because it entered Earth’s environment.