Very bright fireball over Portugal and Spain

A very bright fireball was observed over Portugal and Spain at 22:42 UTC on November 2, 2022. This bright meteor was recorded in the framework of the SMART project, operated by the Southwestern Europe Meteor Network (SWEMN) from the meteor-observing stations located at Huelva, La Hita, CAHA, OSN, La Sagra, Sevilla, and El Aljarafe.

It was observed by a wide number of casual eyewitnesses, who reported it on social networks.

According to an analysis made by the principal investigator of the SMART project, Dr. Jose M. Madiedo, from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), this event was generated by a rock (a meteoroid) from Comet 2P/Encke that hit the atmosphere at about 109 000 km/h (677 700 mph).

The fireball, which belonged to the Southern Taurid meteoroid stream, overflew Spain and Portugal.

It began at an altitude of about 99 km (61 miles) over the locality of El Cerro de Andévalo (province of Huelva), moved northwest, and ended at a height of around 57 km (35 miles) over Vila Verde de Ficalho, Portugal.

Featured image credit: Meteoroides