Long-lasting fireball recorded over the Mediterranean Sea
A bright fireball was recorded streaking across the night sky over the Mediterranean Sea at 02:20 UTC on July 17, 2018. The event lasted up to 12 seconds and was recorded by several SMART Project cameras.
According to the preliminary analysis by the SMART Project's Principal Investigator, Professor Jose Maria Madiedo of the University of Huelva, Spain, this fireball was produced by a rock with asteroidal origin entering our atmosphere at a speed of about 54 000 km/h (33 554 mph).
Spectrum emission lines of a fireball over the Mediterranean Sea on July 17, 2018. Credit: Centro Astronómico Hispano-Alemán
The fireball flew over the Mediterranean Sea, not far away from the coast of Almeria in southern Spain.
It started at about 91 km (56 miles) above sea level, moved southeastward and ended in front of the Cabo de Gata at an altitude of about 31 km (19 miles).
Featured image credit: Meteoroides.net
If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.
Your support makes a difference
Dear valued reader,
We hope that our website has been a valuable resource for you.
The reality is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to maintain and grow this website. We rely on the support of readers like you to keep providing high-quality content.
If you have found our website to be helpful, please consider making a contribution to help us continue to bring you the information you need. Your support means the world to us and helps us to keep doing what we love.
Support us by choosing your support level – Silver, Gold or Platinum. Other support options include Patreon pledges and sending us a one-off payment using PayPal.
Thank you for your consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Teo Blašković
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:
We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.