Meteoric Miracle: The Captivating Celestial Event of a Fireball Over Spain and Portugal

The passage of a massive fireball over Spain and Portugal was recently captured by the Calar Alto Observatory in Gérgal, Almería. This unique celestial event occurred at around 00:46 hours on Sunday and was recorded by the detectors of the Smart Project in various observatories, including Calar Alto.

The fireball was observed crossing both countries’ skies and was followed by two external cameras at Calar Alto, providing a spectacular visual event. Based on preliminary analysis conducted by Professor José María Madiedo from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia, the object had a cometary origin and entered the atmosphere at a speed of 161,000 kilometers per hour. Its initial altitude was 122 kilometers, and it ended its trajectory at 54 kilometers above the ground.

The Calar Alto Bolide Detection Station (CAHA) is part of the Smart project led by Professor Madiedo, collaborating with IAA stations across Spain to monitor celestial objects like this fireball. This project has resulted in successful detection and observation of such events through multiple detection stations located across Spain. The collaboration between CAHA and IAA station in Sierra Nevada has been instrumental in capturing this remarkable astronomical event.

In conclusion, the passage of this huge fireball over Spain and Portugal was an extraordinary astronomical event captured by multiple observatories in collaboration with the Smart project. This event underscores the importance of monitoring celestial objects for scientific research and public awareness of such phenomena.