In a celestial show, the night skies had been illuminated simply after 7:19 pm on Tuesday and had been witnessed from as far south as Venezuela, reaching throughout Trinidad and Tobago, and increasing as far north as Antigua and Barbuda.
The meteor blazed straight over northern Grenada, in line with GOES-16 Geostationary Lightning Knowledge.
Studying the cosmic colours
Stories are that because the meteor disintegrated within the ambiance, it painted the night time with a mesmerizing inexperienced or teal hue, trailing a fiery orange wake behind.
The distinct colours shimmering within the sky present hints in regards to the meteor’s chemical composition. The greenish tinge factors in the direction of a wealthy magnesium content material, whereas the colourful orange suggests a excessive sodium presence.
The science behind the hues
The looks of a meteor is just not solely decided by its composition. Its velocity because it pierces the Earth’s ambiance may also affect the colours individuals might understand.
As per the American Meteorological Society (AMS), faster-moving meteors are inclined to exhibit extra vibrant hues. Gradual meteors may glow pink or orange, particularly if they’re faint.
In distinction, the swift ones typically tackle a bluish hue.
Meteors: Nature’s fireworks
Meteors usually start to burn as they hit the Earth’s ambiance, leading to brilliant gentle emanating between 65 and 120 kilometers above the Earth’s floor. Meteors additionally dive into the ambiance at speeds starting from 40,200 to 257,500 kilometers per hour.
When meteors dive into our ambiance, they start to extend resulting from friction, lighting up at altitudes starting from 65 to 120 kilometers above the Earth. These cosmic objects can journey at astounding speeds, anyplace from 40,200 to 257,500 kilometers per hour.
A typical phenomenon, but at all times awe-inspiring
Regardless of the awe they encourage, meteors burning up is a standard world occasion, together with within the Caribbean.
Sometimes called “capturing stars,” these re-entries are particularly frequent throughout meteor showers.
Such showers happen when Earth sails via comet particles, inflicting these celestial fragments to combust upon contact with the ambiance.
The Taurid Meteor bathe is underway, which started on September 10 and runs via November 20.
It’s anticipated to peak on November 13.