A 100,000 mph meteor flew over Spain and Portugal over the weekend, creating a fiery green, blue and white light show in the process.multiple videos Posted all over social media and news organization Display the object—later Evaluation by the European Space Agency The comet became a mass that entered the Earth’s atmosphere around 22:46 UTC (6:46 p.m. ET) on May 18, breaking up about 57 miles above the Atlantic Ocean.according to Nova Portugalthe moment was witnessed by thousands of people who shared their experiences online.
further away video analysis The color of the meteor indicates the presence of magnesium, which means it may have been something known as a parasite. These space objects feature dark green crystals made of magnesium iron silicate known as olivine. Some astronomers theorize that parasites may occur between an asteroid’s core and mantle. If so, the debris could help researchers learn more about how planets like Earth first formed in our solar system.
JUST IN: A meteor has been spotted over Spain and Portugal.
This is insane.
Early reports said a blue flash of light could be seen hurtling across the night sky for hundreds of kilometers.
At this time, it is not confirmed whether it hit the Earth’s surface, but some… pic.twitter.com/PNMs2CDkW9
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 19, 2024
Unfortunately, there is some possibility that a large portion (if any) of Saturday’s sky show survived during the descent. Astronomers estimate that about 48.5 tons of space debris hits Earth every day, and 90 to 95 percent of it burns up completely upon entering the atmosphere. Perhaps unfortunate for scientists and meteorite hunters, but perhaps for the best. In 2013, a 55-foot-long meteor exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk, with a yield equivalent to 440,000 tons of TNT. The shock wave, generated 14 miles above the ground, damaged buildings within 200 square miles of the explosion and reportedly injured more than 1,600 people. Fortunately, such dramatic finales are extremely rare. Most meteoroids that survive the intense heat generated by friction arrive on Earth as dust or very small meteorites.
[Related: Mars might have an asteroid problem.]
Still, many organizations around the world are working to monitor potentially troubling asteroids and comets. NASA’s Near Earth Object Research Center For example, the company’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory identifies and tracks all such objects and provides “comprehensive impact hazard assessments in support of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office at NASA Headquarters in Washington.” I am on a mission. But “near-Earth” is somewhat relative given vast distances in space, and NASA uses the term to describe asteroids and comets with orbits that come within 120 million miles of the Sun. It is defined as
But it is statistically more important to ensure that all man-made space debris orbiting the Earth is stopped than a potential problem millions of miles away. The less SpaceX or satellite debris that accidentally passes through the atmosphere and lands on farmers’ fields, the better.