{"id":782556,"date":"2024-05-19T07:48:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T12:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=782556"},"modified":"2024-05-19T07:48:02","modified_gmt":"2024-05-19T12:48:02","slug":"exceptionally-bright-meteor-illuminates-night-sky-over-spain-and-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=782556","title":{"rendered":"Exceptionally bright meteor illuminates night sky over Spain and Portugal"},"content":{"rendered":"


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An exceptionally bright meteor was seen over Spain and Portugal at 22:46 UTC on May 18, 2024 (00:46 local time, May 19), lighting up the night sky with a bright blue glow for several seconds and leaving a persistent trail in its wake.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unconfirmed reports indicate that pieces of the meteor fell in the town of Pinheiro and near the town of Castro Daire, approximately 40 km (24 miles) south-southeast of Pinheiro. Both locations are in northern Portugal.<\/p>\n

While these reports are plausible, based on the fireball\u2019s trajectory and its angle of entry into the atmosphere, it is likely that most, if not all, pieces ended up in the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n

The meteor was described as unreal, massive, and a once-in-a-lifetime event.<\/p>\n

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NEWS: A bright meteor just spotted over Portugal pic.twitter.com\/qKoBi6xs8h<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Curiosity (@MAstronomers) May 19, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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SUPERB\u00d3LIDO #SPMN180524F<\/a> REGISTRADO ANOCHE SOBRE #EXTREMADURA<\/a> Y NORTE DE #PORTUGAL<\/a> a las 22h46m40s TUC (0h46 CET). As\u00ed lo capt\u00f3 Miguel A. Furones @MAFurones<\/a> en c\u00e1maras S y O desde Navianos de Valverde. Transform\u00f3 d\u00eda en noche y dej\u00f3 estela persistente.
\u27a1\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/pG09p0OtJf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Red Investigaci\u00f3n B\u00f3lidos y Meteoritos (SPMN) (@RedSpmn) May 19, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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2) A TODO COLOR DESDE #MADRID<\/a> por el Dr. Jaime Izquierdo @ObservaUCM<\/a> @Fisicas_UCM<\/a>. En palabras de nuestro coordinador, el astrof\u00edsico @Josep_Trigo<\/a> @ice_csic<\/a> “Fue un b\u00f3lido de origen cometario en una trayectoria bastante rasante que se extendi\u00f3 sobrevolando #C\u00e1ceres<\/a> hasta #Oporto<\/a>” pic.twitter.com\/LnsKBQHq0b<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Red Investigaci\u00f3n B\u00f3lidos y Meteoritos (SPMN) (@RedSpmn) May 19, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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According to astrophysicist Dr. Josep M Trigo of CSIC-IEEC, this bolide had a cometary origin and was on a fairly low trajectory that extended over Caceres, Spain to Oporto, Portugal.<\/p>\n

This would make the total distance of about 300 km (160 miles).<\/p>\n

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Fireball over Spain and Portugal on May 18, 2024 \u2013 preliminary trajectory. Credit: TW\/Google<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While small meteors enter Earth\u2019s atmosphere every day, objects as large as this one are seen and recorded over populated areas only once or twice per year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s crazy! Mad props to the person that was able to get this footage,\u201d one eyewitness wrote on X.<\/p>\n

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A huge meteor just lighted up the sky of blue in Portugal moments ago pic.twitter.com\/a6xApDFJDM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 (@Antunes1) May 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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JUST IN: Meteor spotted in the skies over Spain and Portugal.<\/p>\n

This is insane.<\/p>\n

Early reports claim that the blue flash could be seen darting through the night sky for hundreds of kilometers.<\/p>\n

At the moment, it has not been confirmed if it hit the Earth\u2019s surface however some\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/PNMs2CDkW9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 19, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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People who witnessed the event are invited to share their observations with the International Meteor Organization (IMO) using this form.<\/p>\n

Featured image credit: X (unknown author)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Major X8.7 flare erupts from Region 3664 \u2014 the strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25<\/h3>\n

Tuesday, May 14, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Powerful X5.8 solar flare erupts from Region 3664 during G5 \u2013 Extreme geomagnetic storm<\/h3>\n

Saturday, May 11, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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G5 \u2013 Extreme geomagnetic storm following strong CME impact<\/h3>\n

Saturday, May 11, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Historic floods hit Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil<\/h3>\n

Monday, May 6, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Bright meteor illuminates sky across Great Lakes region<\/h3>\n

Sunday, May 5, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Catastrophic floods hit Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, leaving at least 83 dead, over 100 missing<\/h3>\n

Thursday, May 2, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Bright green fireball over Long Island, New York<\/h3>\n

Monday, April 29, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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