NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which successfully altered the orbit of the asteroid moon Dimorphos in 2022, may have inadvertently set the stage for Earth's first human-caused meteor shower.
Following the impact, which occurred at approximately 15,000 mph, DART ejected around 3 million fragments into space.
Some of these fragments, now referred to as "Dimorphids," are on trajectories that could intersect with Earth and Mars over the coming decades.
Research indicates that while the smaller particles may reach Earth within seven years, larger fragments could take up to 30 years to become visible as meteors.
The potential meteor shower could be most prominent in May 2055, although the exact timing remains uncertain
Despite their small size, which poses no threat to life, these fragments could create stunning streaks of light as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere, marking a unique milestone in humanity's interaction with space
This phenomenon highlights the unforeseen consequences of planetary defense strategies and emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring of the debris trajectories.
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