NASA Video Explains New Year's Asteroid Strike

Posted on January 17, 2014

NASA describes the New Year's asteroid strike, 2014 AA, in this video. The asteroid was about the size of a compact car. It disintegrated in the atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean. Asteroids this size hit Earth several times per year. However, this is only the second time an Earth-impacted asteroid has been detected before it hit. The animated GIF above shows Asteroid 2014 AA, discovered by the NASA-sponsored Catalina Sky Survey on Jan. 1, 2014, as it moved across the sky.

NASA says the impact location of the asteroid was pinpointed using the infrasound sensors operated by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). Take a look:

Sky & Telescope has more information about 2014 AA here.

SPACE
ASTEROIDS