Asteroid 2024 RW1 Burns Up Over Philippines Hours After Discovery

A small asteroid, about 3 feet across, discovered by astronomers in Arizona, harmlessly burned up in Earth's atmosphere over the Philippines. Named 2024 RW1, it is the ninth asteroid identified before impact. This discovery was made through the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey at the University of Arizona.

A small asteroid discovered on Wednesday harmlessly burned up in Earth's atmosphere the same day, NASA reported.

The asteroid, approximately 3 feet (1 meter) across, was spotted by astronomers in Arizona and disintegrated over the coast of the Philippines just hours after its discovery. Named 2024 RW1, this is the ninth asteroid to be detected before its impact, according to NASA.

Such small asteroids approach Earth about every two weeks and generally pose no danger. The discovery was made through the Catalina Sky Survey, operated by the University of Arizona with funding from NASA.

(With inputs from agencies.)