Fast company logo
|
advertisement

It shows the fiery remnants of an asteroid disintegrating in Earth’s atmosphere over Botswana on Saturday night.

Dazzling video captures moment an asteroid slams into Earth

BY Michael Grothaus

The video was captured by a webcam in a rural area west of Johannesburg,  reports the Washington Post. It shows the fiery remnants of an asteroid disintegrating in Earth’s atmosphere over Botswana on Saturday night. While the video is dazzling, it also is a bit disturbing. The asteroid was only discovered by NASA hours before it slammed into Earth. Thankfully, it was only six feet across so it was able to burn up before hitting the ground. But there are thousands of asteroids up to half a mile wide, or greater, in our solar system alone. If one of them comes hurtling to Earth, we could have only days, if that, between when it is spotted and when it hits–and that result would be more devastation than dazzling.

advertisement

Recognize your brand’s excellence by applying to this year’s Brands That Matter Awards before the early-rate deadline, May 3.

CoDesign Newsletter logo
The latest innovations in design brought to you every weekday.
Privacy Policy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Grothaus is a novelist and author. He has written for Fast Company since 2013, where he's interviewed some of the tech industry’s most prominent leaders and writes about everything from Apple and artificial intelligence to the effects of technology on individuals and society. More


Explore Topics