Meteor Explodes Over Canada

Only a month ago, a series of all-sky cameras in the Canadian region of southern Ontario captured a long-lasting meteorite fireball as it streaked across the skies. Last night it was the turn of the central province of Saskatchewan to see the spectacular fireball of a meteroid dropping through the atmosphere. According to eye witnesses, the intense light lit up the dark skies and a series of thunderous booms shook the ground.

Another day living in the interplanetary shooting gallery I suppose…

These incredible images were captured by Andy Bartlett who was able to video-record the dazzling event from his 10th-floor apartment in Edmonton, Alberta. With some fast thinking, Bartlett grabbed his Canon A510 and captured the rare re-entry. “The brilliant fireball appeared to be closer than the airplane in the upper right corner of this video,” he said.

See the full fireball video »

At first, it was assumed the fireball may have been attributed to a re-entering piece of rocket from a Soyuz launch on November 14th. The Russian Defense Ministry had launched the reconnaissance satellite codenamed Kosmos-2445. However, it would appear that any rocket debris left over from Soyuz is still being tracked in space and has not re-entered. The Saskatchewan fireball is therefore assumed to be a naturally occurring meteoroid, possibly as large as a grapefruit.

Additional footage of the fireball was captured by the local news showing the re-entry via a security camera. Also, an Edmonson police car captured the bright explosion on the horizon (as pictured above).

The fireball re-entered at 5:30pm MST and could be watched for several seconds as it descended before a series of explosions and then fragmentation. “The sky was lit up almost like daytime for 3 or 4 seconds,” said Gordon Blomgren, another eye witness in Alberta.

The light was accompanied by a powerful rumbling a while later (as with thunderstorms, the lightning is seen first and the thunder rolls in a while later). In northwestern Saskatchewan, Murray McDonnell describes what he saw and heard: “My wife and I saw a brilliant flash of blue white light, like lightning. About one minute later a long rumbling sound shook the house.”

Although it would appear the disintegrating meteor may have scattered debris on the ground, scientists aren’t sure. Analysis of eye-witness accounts from different locations (triangulation) may help meteorite hunters derive the possible impact zone, but as yet, there are no reports of any meteorite debris being found.

Source: Space Weather