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Credit: Antarctic Search for
Meteorites program,
Case Western Reserve University,
James M. Baker
Explanation:
What is that streaking across the sky?
A bright earthgrazing meteor.
In 1972, an
unusually bright meteor
from space was
witnessed bouncing
off Earth's atmosphere, much like a
skipping stone
can bounce off of a calm lake.
The impressive event lasted several seconds, was visible in daylight, and reportedly
visible all the way from
Utah,
USA
to
Alberta,
Canada.
Pictured above, the fireball was
photographed streaking above
Teton mountains behind
Jackson Lake,
Wyoming,
USA.
The Great Daylight Fireball of 1972 was possibly the size of a small truck, and
would likely have created an
impressive airburst were it to have
struck Earth more directly.
Earthgrazing meteors are rare but are more commonly
seen when the
radiant
of a meteor shower is just rising or setting.
At that time, meteors closer to the Earth than
earthgrazers would more usually strike the Earth near the horizon, while meteors
further than
earthgrazers would miss the Earth entirely.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: fireball
Publications with words: fireball
See also: