Locals in Russia's remote Yakutia region witnessed a comet-like fireball fall to Earth on December 4, according to a Reuters report citing an official statement and reports from scientists on the phenomenon.
The asteroid, which lit up the atmosphere and sky, was visible to residents of Lensk and Olekminsk districts in Russia's remote eastern Yakutia region.
A statement from the region's Ministry of Emergency Situations said all official agencies were on alert due to the asteroid, but no damage was reported after the crash, according to Reuters.
'A comet and a flash'
“Residents of Olekminsk and Lensk districts could observe a tail resembling a comet and a flash at night,” the ministry statement said.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the asteroid was believed to be 70cm in diameter and was spotted 12 hours before its appearance in the sky. On the social media platform
“Thanks to observations from astronomers around the world, our warning system was able to predict this impact within ± 10 seconds,” the agency said.
New Scientist magazine quoted astronomer Alan Fitzsimmons of Queen's University Belfast as saying the asteroid was “a small one, but still quite spectacular, visible for hundreds of kilometres” before the fireball appeared.
Social media is buzzing with eyewitness videos
Netizens were abuzz on social media platforms, with multiple accounts posting eyewitness videos of the spectacle on X.
One user simply wrote “#Asteroid”; while another marveled at the view, writing: “And in case this week hasn't been eventful enough for you, here's a meteorite landing in Yakutia” (sic).
Watch the various videos taken by security cameras, or by space enthusiasts and locals.
(With input from Reuters)
