Asteroid CERNQ52 expected to impact atmosphere near Australia

A small asteroid, provisionally named CERNQ52, is expected to enter Earth’s atmosphere near northwest Australia on September 6, 2026. The object, which is approximately 0.8 meters in diameter, was detected by the Mount Lemmon Observatory survey.

Experts from the European Space Agency (ESA) describe the object as harmless. The atmospheric entry is projected to occur between 16:00 and 16:35 UTC over the ocean. The impact is expected to produce a bright meteor or fireball, which may be visible from parts of Australia.

If the object survives atmospheric entry, small fragments could potentially fall as meteorites, though most of the material is expected to disintegrate. Astronomers noted that CERNQ52 may be the first Aten asteroid—objects with orbits entirely within Earth’s orbit—to be detected prior to atmospheric entry.