A large fireball streaked across the skies of Galicia in Spain at 00:10 UTC (01:10 LT) on Monday, January 18, 2021. Witnesses reported hearing a loud roar minutes after the meteor exploded. The Spanish Fireball and Meteorite Research Network (SPMN) have started working to determine the object's trajectory.
A large meteor exploded over Galicia on Monday midnight, which was followed by a loud boom that was heard by witnesses who took to social media their experience.
One Twitter user said he heard an explosion in Ponferrada, while another viewer said he saw the meteor in Pontevedra.
"I noticed some flashes that I didn't know what they were. After a while, I heard a noise as if a wall had fallen," said Luis Vega, a local from the Berciano municipality.
The meteor was observed and heard in Vigo, O Grove, Ourense, Sanxenxo, Lugo, Chantada, Santiago, and Leon. Witnesses said the sky was tinted green, orange, or blue when the fireball crossed.
Experts from the SPMN have started reconstructing its trajectory and are working to determine the orbit.
El bólido o meteoroide de esta madrugada visto desde O Morrazo (Galicia) y grabado por @fgjohnny desde su ventana
— Tutiempo (@tiempobrasero) January 18, 2021
Es como un meteorito pero que no llega a tocar el suelo y se desintegra en la atmósfera
pic.twitter.com/vNAy0GM0Eg
#METEORITO! Nuestras cámaras de vigilancia, en el centro emisor del Pajariel, han grabado perfectamente el destello que se produjo en el cielo esta madrugada y que muchos bercianos y gallegos achacan a un meteorito! #Bierzo #Galicia
— Onda Bierzo OndaCero (@ondabierzo) January 18, 2021
Aquí las tienes grabadas por Onda Bierzo pic.twitter.com/1jA5ekaCZG
2) CONFIRMAMOS SU DETECCIÓN DESDE VARIAS ESTACIONES de nuestra red de investigación. Así lució este superbólido desde nuestra estación de Estepa operada por @AJ_Robles a 600 km de distancia.
— Red de Investigación Bólidos y Meteoritos (SPMN) (@RedSpmn) January 18, 2021
Actualmente bajo estudio por el Prof. @Josep_Trigo y @Eloy_PeAs del @iSpaceSci @CSICCat pic.twitter.com/BRBnAzE2qT
Featured image credit: Tutiempo
