Third Asteroid of 2024 Hits Earth Hours After Detection

A small asteroid, 2024 UQ, impacted Earth on October 22, just hours after being detected by the ATLAS system in Hawaii. Although the 3-foot asteroid disintegrated harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean, its sudden appearance highlights the need for improved space surveillance. This marks the third "imminent impactor" event this year, emphasizing the limitations of current tracking systems and the importance of enhancing early detection technologies to prevent potential risks from larger, undetected objects.