Fire in the SkyS


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Meteor fireball over Toledo, Spain (April 17)

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This gorgeous bolide was spotted over Spain on April 17, at 5:59 local time (equivalent to 3:59 universal time). It was almost as bright as the full Moon. The event was generated by a rock (a meteoroid) from Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) that hit the atmosphere at about 178,000 km/h. The fireball overflew the province of Toledo (Spain). It began at an altitude of about 96 km over the locality of Pulgar (province of Toledo), moved along an almost vertical trajectory, and ended at a height of around 59 km.

This bright meteor was recorded in the framework of the SMART project, operated by the Southwestern Europe Meteor Network (SWEMN) from the meteor-observing stations located at Huelva, La Hita (Toledo), Calar Alto, Sierra Nevada, La Sagra (Granada), Sevilla, and Faro de Cullera (Valencia). The event has been analyzed by the principal investigator of the SMART project: Dr. Jose M. Madiedo, from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC).


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Meteor fireball over northwest Europe on April 18

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We received 96 reports about a fireball seen over Bremen, Drenthe, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Nedersaksen, Niedersachsen, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Région Wallonne, Rheinland-Pfalz, Schleswig-Holsten, Utrecht and Zuid-Holland on Tuesday, April 18th 2023 around 19:57 UT.

For this event, we received one video.


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Meteor fireball over northwest Europe on April 17

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We received 287 reports about a fireball seen over Brussel, Drenthe, England, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Hauts-de-France, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Overijssel, Région Wallonne, Utrecht, Vlaams Gewest, Waals Gewest, Wallonia, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland on Monday, April 17th 2023 around 19:31 UT.

For this event, we received 2 videos.


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Meteor fireball over UK on April 17

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We received 12 reports about a fireball seen over England and Northern Ireland on Monday, April 17th 2023 around 20:57 UT.

For this event, we received 2 videos.


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Bright meteor fireball explodes over Israel, residents report hearing sonic boom on April 15

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Locals are reporting that a bright "bolide" meteor was sighted over Israel.

The bolide crossed the sky at a fast speed going northeast, and was seen for approximately three seconds before exploding. Many locals reported hearing a supersonic boom.

The Israeli Astronomical Association says it received reports of an explosion that was heard after the bolide was sighted. "We heard a boom like from a plane," commented one Facebook user on the association's post concerning the meteor.

Another Facebook user wrote: "It was heard well above Ramat Gan," "What a boom!" wrote another. Other users shared that they thought it was a missile or an Iron Dome interception.

Comment: Footage of the fireball:

1/4 The Israeli Astronomical Association posted: A Bolide-type meteorite (A particularly bright meteor) in broad daylight in the sky of Israel! Update 5:50 p.m.: We continue to receive reports from the center and north.

Another video can be found on Jpost here.


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NASA confirms first radar-observed meteor fall seen in Maine

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© NASAA map of the "strewn field" shows where the meteorites may have landed
A fireball that caused loud sonic booms and even lit up the daytime sky on Saturday was the first radar-observed meteorite fall seen in Maine, NASA confirmed.

"Booming" noises were heard near Calais, Maine, shortly after the fireball was seen moving through the sky. This apparent meteorite fall occurred at 11:56 a.m. local time, NASA said.

NASA's radar was able to observe the event for nearly five minutes and calculated fallen meteorite masses from 1.59 — 322 grams, or less than a pound, "although larger masses may have fallen."

Because of this, the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel is offering a $25,000 reward for the first meteorite they get weighing one kilogram or more, the Bangor Daily News reported.

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Meteor fireball over New York and other states on April 11

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© Mark Kirschner
We received 47 reports about a fireball seen over CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI and VT on Tuesday, April 11th 2023 around 01:18 UT.

For this event, we received 3 videos and 3 photos.


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Meteor fireball over UK on April 10

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We received 112 reports about a fireball seen over County Cork, County Laois, County Meath, Cymru, England, Normandie, Wales and Zuid-Holland on Monday, April 10th 2023 around 20:01 UT.

For this event, we received 4 videos.


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Meteor fireball over Spain on April 5

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This bright bolide was spotted over Spain on April 5, at 21:20 local time (equivalent to 19:20 universal time). The fireball was observed by a wide number of casual eyewitnesses, who reported it on social networks.

The event was generated by a rock (a meteoroid) from an asteroid that hit the atmosphere at about 54,000 km/h. The fireball overflew the provinces of Ciudad Real and Albacete (Spain). It began at an altitude of about 81 km over the locality of Ruidera (province of Ciudad Real), moved southeast, and ended at a height of around 46 km over the locality of Pozo Cañada (province of Albacete).

This bright meteor was recorded in the framework of the SMART project, operated by the Southwestern Europe Meteor Network (SWEMN) from the meteor-observing stations located at Ayora (Valencia), Huelva, La Hita (Toledo), Calar Alto, Sierra Nevada, La Sagra (Granada), Sevilla, and Faro de Cullera (Valencia). The event has been analyzed by the principal investigator of the SMART project: Dr. Jose M. Madiedo, from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC).


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Meteor fireball over France, UK and nearby countries on April 3

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© David C.
We received 158 reports about a fireball seen over Bretagne, Brussel, Drenthe, England, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Grand Est, Hauts-de-France, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire, Région Wallonne, Utrecht, Vlaams Gewest, Wales and Zuid-Holland on Monday, April 3rd 2023 around 05:08 UT.

For this event, we received 2 videos and one photo.