Tag #Space Observation

What was the significance of China's successful tracking and imaging of asteroid 2024 XA1 before its atmospheric entry?

On December 3, 2024, observatories in China, including the Lijiang branch of the Yunnan Observatories, successfully tracked and imaged asteroid 2024 XA1 before its atmospheric entry over eastern Siberia. This marked the 11th successful early warning of an asteroid impacting Earth in 2024, showcasing advancements in near-Earth object (NEO) detection. The asteroid, estimated between 75 centimeters and one meter in diameter, was first detected by a University of Arizona telescope and subsequently imaged by multiple Chinese observatories.