Asteroid Impacts Earth Hours After Detection Over Pacific Ocean

The asteroid, named 2024 UQ, was identified by ATLAS but evaded monitoring systems before burning up in Earth's atmosphere.

The asteroid 2024 UQ was detected only hours before it entered Earth's atmosphere on October 22, 2024.
ATLAS, a sky-monitoring system in Hawaii, spotted the asteroid, but its position between sky fields delayed tracking data.
The asteroid disintegrated harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean, marking the third imminent impactor event of the year.
Previous similar events in 2024 include asteroids burning up over Berlin in January and the Philippines in September.
Space agencies are enhancing detection capabilities and testing redirection strategies to improve planetary defense.