13 Dec, 2022 @ 19:30
1 min read

WATCH: Exploding meteor ‘bright as a full moon’ spotted in skies of south Spain amid days of endless rain

Screenshot 2022 12 13 At 18.33.28

In spite of the endless rains that have soaked Andalucia this month, a meteor as bright as a full moon was spotted streaking through the rain clouds before ending its journey in a shower of sparks on Friday night. 

The meteor was detected by the SMART project, a network of detectors that is part of the South West Europe Meteor and Meteorite Network, entering the stratosphere and passing above the mouth of the Strait of Gibraltar on the Atlantic side.

 By the time it met its end, the meteor had travelled about 64 kilometres through the Earth’s atmosphere. 

The network, which is coordinated by the Andalusian Astrophysics Institute, aims to study interplanetary material that impacts the Earth.

Jose María Madiedo of the Andalusian Institute of Astrophysics confirmed that the meteor entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of around 107,000 kilometres per hour. 

“These rocks which pass through the orbit of our planet are known as meteoroids,” he said. 

Screenshot 2022 12 13 At 18.33.28
The bolide was spotted over Spain on December 9, at 21:32 local time. It was almost as bright as the full moon. The fireball was observed by a wide number of casual eyewitnesses, who reported it on social networks. Credit: Jm Madiedo

When the rock hit the atmosphere, it heated up to several thousand degrees Celsius and became incandescent, giving it the appearance of a fireball. 

The meteor began its journey at an altitude of 99 kilometres above the Atlantic Ocean, and ended with a violent explosion, which Madiedo said was due to the rock breaking up. 

The fireball was recorded by the SMART project detectors in Seville, Huelva, and La Sagra.

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Walter Finch

Walter Finch, who comes from a background in video and photography, is keen on reporting on and investigating organised crime, corruption and abuse of power. He is fascinated by the nexus between politics, business and law-breaking, as well as other wider trends that affect society.
Born in London but having lived in six countries, he is well-travelled and worldly. He studied Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and earned his diploma in journalism from London's renowned News Associates during the Covid era.
He got his first break in the business working on the Foreign News desk of the Daily Mail's online arm, where he also helped out on the video desk.
He then decided to escape the confines of London and returned to Spain in 2022, having previously lived in Barcelona for many years.
He took up up a reporter role with the Olive Press Newspaper and today he is based in La Linea de la Concepcion at the heart of a global chokepoint and crucial maritime hub, where he edits the Olive Press Gibraltar edition.
He is also the deputy news editor across all editions of the newspaper.

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