When a fleeting brightness crossed the night sky on the east coast of Florida, one person called for help. Calls to the emergency number 911 reported that someone had seen a distress signal resembling a flare at sea. Fearing that a boater might be in need of assistance, two crews from the United States Coast Guard began searching the area, but found nothing. It turned out that the brightness was not a distress signal, but a meteor from outer space that had originated millions of years ago.
Over ten people reported seeing the “fireball” to the American Meteor Society (ATOM), which maintains a database of space observations. Others posted videos on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. According to the ATOM database, the reports came from various locations along the coast of Florida, from Fernandina Beach to the southeast of the Bahamas.
The meteor was so bright that residents of Fernandina Beach and friends on a cruise ship on the balcony noticed it. They were delighted by this unusual sight and described its trajectory as it descended straight toward the horizon.
Another observer from Daytona Beach noted that the meteor had a very bright tail at first and then changed color to green over time.
According to the American Meteor Society, falling celestial bodies are classified as fireballs, which are “very bright meteors, usually brighter than the observable planet Venus in the morning or evening sky.” ATOM states that thousands of fireballs appear daily, but most of them are not visible due to being over the ocean or masked by daylight. Those that can be seen at night are usually so fast that very few people have the opportunity to observe them.
Tomasz Zawadzki, an expert on astronomical phenomena, explains that observations of such events are often limited to witness accounts, which is why photos or videos like the one posted by a resident of Flagler Beach are important for confirming their occurrence.
Summary of the key information about the meteor in Florida:
1. A brightness crossed the night sky on the east coast of Florida, initially reported as a distress signal.
2. The brightness turned out to be a meteor, not a distress signal.
3. Over 10 people reported seeing the meteor to the American Meteor Society (ATOM).
4. Videos of the meteor were posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.
5. Observations of the meteor came from various locations along the coast of Florida.
6. Residents of Fernandina Beach and people on a cruise ship noticed a very bright meteor.
7. Another observer from Daytona Beach noted a green tail on the meteor.
8. Falling celestial bodies are classified as fireballs by ATOM.
9. Thousands of fireballs appear daily, but most are not visible.
10. Observations of such phenomena are often limited to witness accounts, making photos and videos important for confirmation.
Glossary:
– Distress signal: A way of signaling the need for help by individuals in danger.
– Meteor: Celestial body that enters Earth’s atmosphere and reaches its surface.
– American Meteor Society (ATOM): Organization that collects data and information about meteors.
– Fireball: Bright meteor, usually brighter than Venus in the sky.
– Trajectory: The path along which a meteor moves.
– Horizon: The line where the sky meets the Earth’s surface.
Related links:
– American Meteor Society
The source of the article is from the blog trebujena.net