In a spectacular display, the night sky over the Czech Republic was illuminated by a bright meteor on Monday evening, as confirmed by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI). The meteor, also known as a bolide, was reportedly brighter than a full moon at its explosion.
Meteorologists at the CHMI shared a video of the event on social media, which captured the phenomenon in all its glory. According to the institute, the bolide was visible above the western horizon at 10:45 pm local time.
While the spectacle wowed onlookers, meteorologists believe that small fragments of the meteor may have made it to the ground. The European bolide network, which monitors the sky with cameras, should be able to locate any fragments that did fall to Earth. The network’s Czech headquarters are located at the Ondřejov Observatory.
Meteorologists are optimistic about locating fragments, saying, “They will calculate it in a short time, and we will see.” For now, the exact location of any possible meteorite fragments remains unknown.
This is not the first time the Czech Republic has been treated to such a display. In 2017, a meteorite was found near the town of Svitavy. The meteorite had broken into several pieces and landed in a wooded area.
Meteorites are of great interest to scientists, as they provide a window into the formation and evolution of the solar system. The study of meteorites has led to many important discoveries, including identifying amino acids, the building blocks of life.
The Czech Republic has a rich history of meteorite research, with scientists having studied the Svitavy meteorite in great detail. The discovery of the latest meteorite fragments, if any, could provide valuable insights into the origins of the solar system and the building blocks of life itself.
The bolide over the Czech Republic is a reminder of the many wonders of the universe that remain to be discovered. As scientists continue to study these phenomena, we can look forward to many more exciting discoveries.