The search is on to locate meteorites from an object that struck Earth’s atmosphere during the weekend, about 62 miles (or 100 kilometers) west of Berlin. While rock fragments would be highly valued, scientists are also eager to gather as many images as they can of the meteor 2024BX1’s descent.
Early on Sunday morning, those in Central Europe who were awake at the appropriate time received notice of the approach of an asteroid measuring one meter (3 feet) in width. Though the timing meant only night owls witnessed it, this arguably constitutes the most populated area for a predicted impact by a space rock to yet.
Meteors appeared completely out of the blue, or dark, depending on the time of day or night, until lately. But as sky observations increase, we can occasionally detect tiny asteroids just before they enter the atmosphere, which gives us the chance to send out alerts. When the impending item was described as being the size of half a giraffe, one such case became viral.
But that space rock crashed into the sea off the coast of Iceland, eliminating any possibility of debris being found and narrowing the field of possible spectators. Even when we forecast the arrival of an object, very few people will get to see it because the majority of the world is covered in oceans and much of the remaining area is sparsely populated desert.
Last year, a smaller asteroid followed and burnt up over the English Channel, frightening photographers from the densely populated beaches but also guaranteeing that no one was directly beneath it.
From Poland, Czechia, and eastern Germany, the 2024BX1 meteor was observed. Millions of people could have seen it if it had happened a few hours sooner. Rather, it landed around 1:32 am local time, which is hardly the ideal moment to draw large people, especially since it will be extremely cold overnight.
The International Meteor Organization and NASA Asteroid Watch disseminated Sárneczky’s message to a broader audience, providing a 95-minute warning to individuals who were online and awake. The IMO even sent connections to webcams to those who couldn’t physically attend the event; some of these links ended up being pointed in the right direction.
More information is always helpful for research into these occurrences, so anyone who witnessed—or better yet, recorded—the meteor is welcome to report it here.
Typically, space rocks must be larger than this for fragments to make it through the atmosphere and land on Earth. Online rumors have stated that portions may have survived because of the entry’s steep angle and low velocity with Earth. If so, hunters will likely have to wait until the following snowstorm to get the best opportunity.
It would be the second new asteroid finding of the year if any fragments are discovered. Nearly a hundred witnesses in four different US states claimed to have seen a fireball on December 29. Their help, in conjunction with CCTV footage and the AllSky7 video network, made it possible for meteorite hunters to locate the area close to the border between California and Arizona. Three pieces totaling 450 grams (16 ounces) were taken out of the Arizona desert on New Year’s Day.
