Asteroid 2024 RW1 impacts Earth’s atmosphere over the Philippines – 9th predicted Earth impactor in history
Image credit: Catalina Sky Survey
A small asteroid detected by the Mt. Lemmon Survey in Arizona, U.S. at 05:43 UTC today, September 4, 2024, is expected to harmlessly impact Earth’s atmosphere over the Philippines at around 16:39 UTC. The object is designated as asteroid 2024 RW1.
- A newly discovered asteroid designated 2024 RW1 (previously CAQTDL2) is expected to impact Earth’s atmosphere over the Philippines at 16:39 UTC on September 4, 2024.
- This is the only 9th time in history that an asteroid has been discovered before impacting Earth.
The asteroid has a diameter of just around 1 m (3.3 feet) so most if not all of it will burn in the atmosphere before reaching Earth’s surface, creating a very bright fireball.
If current calculations are correct, the asteroid will impact the atmosphere at around 16:39 UTC over Luzon, Northern Philippines. In the Philippines, the entry time will be 00:39 LT on September 5.
Very small pieces of this object may survive the entry providing a rare opportunity for meteorite hunting.
Unfortunately, bad weather will severely limit observations.
Heavy rains are especially expected in areas like Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, La Union, and Benguet. According to the weather forecast, the Southwest Monsoon is bringing heavy to intense rains over these areas, with rainfall amounts ranging from 100 – 200 mm (4 to 8 inches). Moderate to heavy rains (50 – 100 mm / 2 – 4 inches) are also expected over surrounding regions, including parts of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija. These conditions may result in flooding and landslides, particularly in susceptible areas.
Given this forecast, those interested in meteorite hunting in Luzon following the asteroid event should prepare for potential heavy rain and challenging conditions, especially in the northern regions.
BIG NEWS! CSS observer Jacqueline Fazekas has just discovered a small meteoroid that will harmlessly impact with Earth's atmosphere in about 8 hours over the Western Pacific. The object (called CAQTDL2) is small, a few feet in diameter. Attached are the discovery images. pic.twitter.com/js7qHNiZq0
— Catalina Sky Survey (@catalina_sky) September 4, 2024
UPDATE 2: We expect the ~1 m asteroid discovered this morning to strike Earth's atmosphere over the Philippines near Luzon Island at 16:39 UTC today.
— European Space Agency (@esa) September 4, 2024
Thanks to new observations, we now have a very good idea of where it will impact.
And the object has a name! Welcome to Earth… https://t.co/C1lVUfP9Uu pic.twitter.com/agxS4tRuHm
.@NASA CNEOS & ESA NEOCC predict that a very small (~1 meter) #asteroid will harmlessly impact Earth's atmosphere in a few hours at ~16:40 UTC (~12:40 pm EDT) and create a #fireball off the east coast of the northern Philippines. It was first observed in space by @catalina_sky. pic.twitter.com/l2rWHYBTie
— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) September 4, 2024
Incoming! The ninth ever immininent impactor has been discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey this morning. There will be a harmless, but likely spectacular fireball in about 8 hours, caused by a small ~1 metre diameter object entering Earth's atmosphere near the Philippines. pic.twitter.com/UffpYDYTd1
— Richard Moissl (@Richard_M_F) September 4, 2024
According to CNEOS, 2024 RW1 will enter Earth’s atmosphere at a relative speed of 23.7 km/s. The object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 1.1 and 2.4 m (3.6 – 7.9 feet).
This is the only 9th time in history that an asteroid has been discovered before impacting Earth. Find available data and links in the table below.
Predicted Earth impactors
Updated at 11:20 UTC on May 16, 2026| Object / Type | Discovery date (UTC) | Impact date (UTC) | Impact location | Dimensions (~) | Energy released (kt) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 TC3 (Apollo) | October 6, 2008 at 06:39 | October 7, 2008 at 02:46 | Nubian desert, Sudan | 4 m (13.1 feet) | 1 | 600 meteorites found. Total weight 11 kg. |
| 2014 AA (Apollo) | January 1, 2014 at 06:18 | January 2, 2014 at 03:06 | Atlantic Ocean | 3 m (9.8 feet) | 0.5 - 0.1 | - |
| 2018 LA (Apollo) | June 2, 2018 at 08:22 | June 2, 2018 at 16:44 | Botswana/South Africa | 3 m (9.8 feet) | 0.4 | At least 24 meteorites found. Ejected by asteroid Vesta. Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite (HED) type material |
| 2019 MO (Apollo) | June 22, 2019 at 07:24 | June 22, 2019 at 21:25 | Puerto Rico | 5 m (16.4 feet) | 6 | Possibly Alinda asteroid. NEXRAD weather radar detected falling meteorites over water. |
| 2022 EB5 (Apollo) | March 11, 2022 at 19:24 | March 11, 2022 at 21:22 | Jan Mayen Island, Norway | 1 m (6.4 feet) | 2 | - |
| 2022 WJ1 (Apollo) | November 19, 2022 at 04:53 | November 19, 2022 at 08:27 | Ontario, Canada | 1 m (3.2 feet) | - | Most meteorites fell in water. |
| 2023 CX1 (Apollo) | February 12, 2023 at 20:18 | February 13, 2023 at 02:59 | Normandy, France | 1 m (3.2 feet) | - | Over 22 meteorites. |
| 2024 BX1 (Apollo) | January 20, 2024 at 20:48 | January 21, 2024 at 00:33 | Berlin, Germany | 0.7 - 1.6 m (2.23 - 5.2 feet) / ~140 kg | - | About 200 meteorites. Total weight 1.8 kg. |
| 2024 RW1 (Apollo) | September 4, 2024 at 05:43 | September 4, 2024 at 16:39 | Luzon, Philippines | 1.1 - 2.4 m (3.6 – 7.9 feet) | 0.2 | - |
| 2024 UQ | October 22, 2024 | October 22, 2024 at 10:54 | Eastern Pacific Ocean | 1 m (3.2 feet) | 0.15 | - |
| 2024 XA1 | December 3, 2024 at 05:55 | December 3, 2024 at 16:15 | Siberia, Russia | 70 cm (2.3 feet) | - | - |
| 2026 JN4 | May 15, 2026 at 08:08 | May 15, 2026, at 13:44 | Arafura Sea region | 0.65 - 1.4 m (2.1 - 4.5 feet) | - | - |
Multimedia
The impact took place as predicted and videos have started coming in:
One of the clearest shot of #asteroid
— Neetu Khandelwal (@T_Investor_) September 4, 2024
A very small #asteroid ( 1 meter) entered into earth's atmosphere and turned into green fireball off the east coast of the northern Philippines. pic.twitter.com/B24Qlff2JH
SUCH A SPECTACULAR NIGHT SHOW, ASTEROID RW1!!! Taken from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines! pic.twitter.com/F133i8nibr
— Raymon Dullana (@raymongdullana) September 4, 2024
CAQTDL2 shot by Karen Bea at Sta. Ana, Cagayan Philippines#CAQTDL2 #Meteoroid #Asteroid pic.twitter.com/UjB9BcXCLn
— iamtony (@iamtony_B) September 4, 2024
This is my view from Metro Manila about the asteroid 2024 RW1 comin hot to the Earth! #asteroid #2024rw1 pic.twitter.com/OsqJKyznhJ
— ProDiamond (@diamondz_pro) September 4, 2024
ASTEROID ATMOSPHERIC ENTRY AS SEEN FROM LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES
— Earth Shaker PH (@earthshakerph) September 4, 2024
Nasilayan ang pagpasok ng asteroid 2024 RW1 sa Earth's atmosphere at nagliwanag sa kalangitan bilang maliwanag na bulalakaw o "fireball". Kuha ni Zean Del Rosario kaninang 12:39 AM PhST. #AstroShaker #Asteroid pic.twitter.com/3rC5SKN3Jb
2024 RW1 seen from Ballesteros, Cagayan, Philippines.
— Tony (@Lewls_T) September 4, 2024
Copyright to the owner
: Emmanuel Unite#Asteroid#2024RW1 pic.twitter.com/8fsRItkZWS
The entry of #asteroid 2024 RW1 that impacted Earth's atmosphere on Sept. 4, 2024 was detected by sensors and can now be found with other fireballs here: https://t.co/88RdUgyZsV pic.twitter.com/KTzSrB8F92
— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) September 4, 2024
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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