|
. | . |
|
by Brooks Hays Fukuoka, Japan (UPI) Nov 5, 2014
On the same night that at least two fireball events caught the attention of skywatchers in the United States, residents of western Japan spotted a bright green flash of light experts say was a burning chunk of asteroid intercepted by Earth's atmosphere. Astronomers in Japan fielded a number of reports from witnesses claiming to have seen the fireball flash across the night sky. "Since it was early evening and fine weather, favorable conditions were there for many to witness it," Hidehiko Agata, an associate professor at Japan's National Astronomical Observatory, told the Japan Times. With the majority of reports fielded by observatories in Fukuoka, Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures, the fireball likely crashed into the atmosphere above the southwestern portion of the island nation. A remote camera at Fukuoka airport caught the fireball as it flashed a green streak above the horizon. Agata said the meteor was "highly likely" to be a bolide -- a meteor that burns bright enough to be witnessed across a wide area, and which usually features a bright terminal flash as it disappears from the night sky. Another meteor lit up the skies above the Midwest and East Coast in the United States on Monday night, while a piece of space junk caught the attention of skywatchers in and around Chicago.
Related Links Asteroid and Comet Impact Danger To Earth - News and Science
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |