Earlier today, an asteroid about the size of a person impacted Earth over Papua New Guinea. This is only the 12th object to be discovered before impact. Simulation by Tony Dunn

What exactly does impact here mean? Hit the ground? If yes, what allows small objects survive the ride through the atmosphere?

The word impact often gets debated in this context. I consider Earth's atmosphere part of Earth, so I use it. Did it survive? At ~1.5 m across, 16 km/s, and an 18° entry angle, it probably mostly burned up, but small meteorites are possible depending on composition and fragmentation height.

https://bsky.app/profile/tony873004.bsky.social/post/3mlwb7bed3k2p

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If it was so small how did it managed to survive the entry burn up?

It might not have survived. But it could have dropped meteorites.

https:// ​x. ​com/tony873004/status/2055409224713441771

Tony Dunn

https://bsky.app/profile/tony873004.bsky.social/post/3mlwcavpfsc2n

More in the thread:

​https://groups.io/g/mpml/topic/119328235