The Lijiang Observatory in Yunnan, China, captured rare images of near-Earth asteroid 2024 XA1 before it entered Earth’s atmosphere on December 4. Detected 12 hours earlier using a 2.4-meter telescope, the object ignited as a bright fireball over Siberia. Researchers designed a precise observation plan six hours prior, successfully photographing the fast-moving object an hour before impact. The telescope, East Asia’s largest for optical astronomy, is crucial for tracking such aste roids with high precision. This achievement underscores the importance of early warnings and defense against asteroid threats, providing valuable data to advance China’s planetary protection initiatives.
Cover Photo: [The Lijiang branch of the CAS Yunnan Observatories]
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