zlacker

"but this one was unique because it was first detected by scientists roughly three hours before impact — only the eighth time that researchers have spotted one of these space rocks before it hit."

Maybe I did not read close enough but how is it "first"?

>>tocs3+(OP)
"first detected", meaning this asteroid wasn't detected before. They don't claim anything about earlier detection of other asteroids.

>>tocs3+(OP)
The word "first" in that sentence means the first detection of this asteroid, not that it was the first asteroid detected in the same way.

>>tocs3+(OP)
The other responses actually have this a bit wrong: this was unique among "bright fireball" asteroid impacts, because before it impacted (second), it was (first) detected. "First" is referring to the order of events: detection first, impact second. Not referring to the first of its kind, or even the first detection of this asteroid. It's saying these types of impacts usually just appear in the sky without first being detected by observatories. Although it's clearly not "unique" if that's the 8th time this has happened. The article is just kinda poor quality.

>>terafl+m1
then what imparts the "unique" characteristic?

>>kvdvee+f1
They do claim that this asteroid is somehow unique.

The best I can guess is that 8 of these have been detected before they hit, but only this one was detected 3 hours before it did. The rest must have been detected with longer or shorter times before impact (presumably longer).

Alternatively, perhaps it is unique because of its small size, at only 1 meter.

>>s1arti+Nw
I think "unique" is being used in the figurative sense of "very unusual".

>>olddus+pX
Interesting, I have literally never head it used that way. Doubly so in the same sentence as the comparable events.

Im not trying to debate, just surprised that is even considered an option.