A recent evaluation highlights that a swarm of “artificial” meteorites may soon impact Earth.
This revelation arises from NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, initiated in 2022.
This groundbreaking experiment marked a significant milestone in human history, demonstrating our ability to alter the trajectory of potentially hazardous asteroids, specifically the asteroid Dimorphos.
On September 26 of that year, the DART spacecraft collided intentionally with Dimorphos, situated over 11 million kilometers from Earth and traveling at a staggering speed of 24,000 km/h.
This monumental impact not only altered Dimorphos’ orbit but also generated a substantial amount of space debris.
Recent research suggests that these debris fragments may eventually collide with both Mars and Earth.
Here’s what you need to know about this unprecedented swarm of human-caused meteorites.
The DART mission has been met with unparalleled success.
It not only showcased the feasibility of kinetic impact techniques for deflecting dangerous asteroids but also significantly changed Dimorphos’ appearance and orbit.
This collision shortened the asteroid’s orbit around its companion Didymos by approximately 30 minutes, proving that it is indeed possible to influence the paths of celestial objects threatening Earth.
However, the impact also expelled a vast plume of debris into space, including millions of tiny fragments now on a potential collision course with our planet and Mars.
According to a recent study published in The Planetary Science Journal, researchers utilized computer simulations based on data from the ESA’s LICIACube, which was with DART during its mission.
They traced the speeds and trajectories of around 3 million fragments, discovering that many could intersect with the Earth-Moon system or Mars.
Fortunately, due to their small sizes, ranging from 30 micrometers to 10 centimeters in diameter, these fragments do not pose a threat to life on Earth.
Nonetheless, their entry into Earth’s atmosphere could create a spectacular light phenomenon reminiscent of a meteor shower.
While Dimorphos fragments aren’t dangerous, their potential to form a new meteor shower is a captivating aspect that has piqued scientific curiosity.
Eloy Peña-Asensio, lead author of the study and aerospace engineer at the Politecnico di Milano, stated that when these fragments hit Earth, they will disintegrate in the atmosphere, producing dazzling streaks of light in the sky.
Dubbed the “Dimorfids,” this new meteor shower could become visible within the next ten years, though exact timing remains uncertain.
Smaller fragments, traveling over 5,400 km/h, might reach Earth in as little as seven years, likely being too small to see as shooting stars.
In contrast, larger fragments could take up to 30 years before they grace our atmosphere, potentially leading to a historic meteorological phenomenon.
Though it is impossible to ascertain the exact impact until these fragments approach Earth, this potential meteor shower, if confirmed, would mark the first documented celestial event directly caused by human intervention.
While DART’s main goal was planetary defense, the collateral effect of creating a new celestial spectacle underscores the mission’s historical significance.
As scientists continue to monitor this situation, the public might soon gaze at the night sky with fresh awe, cognizant that some meteors they witness could be the direct result of a human experiment in deep space.
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