Suitcase-Sized Asteroid Evades NASA’s Early Warning, Hits Earth Just Hours After Detection—Third Such Incident in 2024

A small asteroid, designated 2024 UQ, impacted Earth on October 22, just hours after its detection. This close encounter emphasises the risks posed by space objects that evade early monitoring. The asteroid was first spotted by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii, but only two hours before it disintegrated harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean. Though the 3-foot asteroid presented no danger, its sudden appearance highlights the critical need for enhanced space surveillance.

ATLAS Survey and Discovery Timeline

The ATLAS survey—a network of four telescopes dedicated to tracking near-Earth objects—captured initial images of 2024 UQ on October 22. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), while the asteroid was visible in ATLAS images, it wasn’t recognised as a moving object until hours later. Positioned near the edge of two adjacent fields, the asteroid avoided immediate tracking by impact monitoring systems.

In a statement, ESA explained, “ATLAS obtained images that included detections of a small object on a high-probability collision course. However, due to the object’s position near two adjacent fields, it wasn’t identified as a moving object until a few hours later.” By the time astrometry data was processed, 2024 UQ had already entered Earth’s atmosphere.

2024’s Third “Imminent Impactor”

ESA noted that 2024 UQ was the third asteroid this year classified as an "imminent impactor"—an object detected just hours before impact. This incident underscores both the strengths and limitations of current tracking systems, reinforcing the urgency for improved early detection technologies. While this asteroid’s small size posed no threat, it underscores the potential risk of larger, undetected objects entering Earth's atmosphere undetected until shortly before impact.