1-meter asteroid on collision course with Earth burns up over Philippines

A small asteroid, officially named 2024 RW1 on Wednesday, made contact with Earth’s atmosphere. The asteroid, roughly 1 meter in diameter, entered over the Philippines near Luzon Island at 4:39 p.m. UTC (12:39 p.m. ET).
The European Space Agency (ESA) had been tracking the asteroid, which was initially identified by the Catalina Sky Survey under the designation CAQTDL2.

Despite its small size, which made it likely to burn up in the atmosphere, the asteroid's arrival was notable as it was one of only nine such events ever observed before impact.

Observers in the affected region were expected to witness a bright fireball as the asteroid disintegrated. However, the view was partially obstructed by Typhoon Yagi, which has been affecting the northern Philippines. The storm, which intensified to a Category 3 hurricane, created significant cloud cover, complicating observations of the fireball.

While the asteroid was too small to pose any danger, its entry provided a valuable opportunity for scientific observation and study. The event highlights the capability of current tracking systems to detect and monitor near-Earth objects, even those as small as 1 meter in diameter.
Residents of Luzon and surrounding areas were advised to remain safe and be cautious of any potential debris, though no significant impacts or damage have been reported.