The Digital Press

An asteroid roughly 1-3 meters wide flew just 428 km above Antarctica on October 1st, marking the second closest asteroid pass ever recorded. It was only discovered hours after its closest approach, highlighting challenges in detecting small near-Earth objects.

Why it matters: Small asteroids pose risks to satellites and space infrastructure despite burning up harmlessly in the atmosphere.

The big picture: Current detection systems miss many close-passing small asteroids, showing the need for better ground and space-based tracking.

The stakes: Impacting debris could trigger Kessler Syndrome, threatening decades of orbital operations and space access.

Commenters say: Many express concern over our limited asteroid detection and urge increased investment in planetary defense capabilities.