Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:46pm on 01 May 2024,Wednesday Science
Scientists discovered that the asteroid 2024 BX1, rotating at a record-breaking rate of once every 2.6 seconds, collided with Earth's atmosphere, breaking apart over Berlin, Germany. This rare event allowed tracking and observation before impact, a first for such occurrences. Maxime Devogele and colleagues captured images from the European Space Agency's Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre, revealing the asteroid's rapid rotation. Smaller asteroids like 2024 BX1 can endure faster spins due to their compact nature, aiding planetary defense research. Understanding spin dynamics informs predictions on how asteroids behave upon atmospheric entry.
