Brilliant fireball streaks across northeast Brazil
A bright fireball streaked across northeast Brazil at around 22:00 UTC (19:00 LT) on Saturday, May 22, 2021. The phenomenon was witnessed by residents in Paraiba, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte.
Based on videos captured by the Brazilian Meteor Observation Network (BRAMON), the meteor appeared over the Atlantic Ocean at an altitude of 99.2 km (61.6 miles) and about 110 km (68.3 miles) east of Rio Grande do Norte.
The meteor traveled in a northwest direction, streaking across the sky until it dissipated at an altitude of 36.3 km (22.5 miles), 53 km (32.9 miles) from Natal.
According to BRAMON, the fireball covered a distance of 89.7 km (55.7 miles) and lasted five seconds, which represented an average speed of 64 600 km/h (40 140 mph).
Based on the meteor's speed and luminosity, the object possibly weighed between 20 and 60 kg (44 and 132 lbs), 5 kg (11 lbs) of which may have generated meteorites that could have landed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Image: Fireball heatmap. Credit: American Meteor Society
Featured image credit: BRAMON
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