A new study has revealed that the meteor that exploded over Niagara Falls in 2022 and turned into a massive fireball is the smallest asteroid ever detected. Scientists determined that the asteroid was 40-60 cm wide and the size of a cat.
A new study has revealed that the meteor that exploded over Niagara Falls in 2022 and turned into a massive fireball is the smallest asteroid ever measured. It was stated that the asteroid, which was detected by astronomers a few hours before the stunning explosion over Canada, was the size of a cat. The space rock, dubbed 2022 WJ1, broke into pieces as it entered Earth’s lower atmosphere in the early hours of November 19, 2022. The asteroid quickly burned through the sky, creating a sonic boom and a streak of green light near Ontario. When astronomers detected the space rock heading toward Earth, they deployed instruments along its projected path to closely track it through the atmosphere.
It was discovered that the orbit of the 2022 WJ1 asteroid caused most of its pieces to fall into Lake Ontario, while the main mass hit land. However, despite extensive searches, no meteor fragments were found until the summer of 2024. Locals continue to search for the main fragment, which is thought to be buried in the ground.
The asteroid was seen in New York and Pennsylvania, USA, by emitting green light as it passed through the atmosphere. Astronomers determined that the asteroid was about 40-60 cm wide, making it the “smallest asteroid” ever.
The new study combines data from telescopes and meteor cameras to more accurately analyze the size and chemical makeup of asteroids.
