Astronomers spot small asteroid on course to enter earth’s atmosphere
Astronomers detected a small asteroid, CERNQ52, on a trajectory to enter Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. Experts confirmed the object is too small to pose a threat to the population.
Why it matters
Demonstrates advancements in planetary defense and the ability of astronomers to track near-Earth objects in real-time.
The photo has been used for illustrative purposes. Maitha Al Mareekhi, Staff Reporter
Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Odeh, Director of the International Astronomical Centre (IAC), said that astronomers detected a small object, temporarily named CERNQ52, on September 6, 2026. Subsequent trajectory analyses reveal that this object is on a course towards Earth's atmosphere, anticipated to enter within hours of being spotted.
He noted that the discovery was made by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona. Information released by the European Space Agency's Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre estimates the object's diameter to be between 0.6 and 1.2 meters. As per one of the most recent calculations, its entry into the atmosphere is expected between 16:07 and 16:12 GMT. However, these predictions may change with the addition of new observations.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in