A large meteor crossed the sky of the South West of France on Friday. The passage of this fireball, a phenomenon that is not exceptional, was followed by many observers and led to many reactions on social networks.
The passage of a large meteor was particularly noticed in the south of France on Friday night, sparking numerous reactions on social networks and multiple testimonies from scientific organizations responsible for their observation.
Je viens de voir une etoile filante/ météorite/ comète c’était énorme j’ai jamais vu un truc aussi gros dans le ciel
— Tim-Tam (@luchien_) August 4, 2017
La météorite se séparant en 3 qui vient de passer dans le ciel de Bordeaux est l’un des trucs les plus beaux que j’ai vu dans ma vie
— Pobletista (@Diambarista) August 4, 2017
This kind of “big fireball” or “fireball” is not unusual, meteors of this magnitude across the sky about every fifteen days, AFP François Colas, director of research at the CNRS in Paris Observatory and head of Fripon network (Fireball Recovery and Interplanetary network) which monitors meteorite falls in France.
Ce 4 Août vers 23h15 #météorite/#météore observée dans le ciel français, vidéo d’une webcam dans la Massif Central au #Lioran ???? pic.twitter.com/QWJauzhLet
— Meteociel (@meteociel) August 4, 2017
A skimming fireball
But it could be followed by a particularly large number of observers, occurring in 23 hours in good weather, a summer evening during the holidays: the International Meteor Organization (IMO) has received over 170 testimonies from the entire southern part of France, from Bordeaux to Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand to Perpignan.
Have a look at the update about the fireball that illuminated the Southern France on Aug 4, thanks to FRIPON team: https://t.co/6fA0gFla1i pic.twitter.com/AbUahCfVmD
— IMO Meteor Org. (@IMOmeteors) August 6, 2017
According to Louis of Hendecourt, CNRS research director at the Institute of Space Astrophysics, interviewed by the newspaper Sud Ouest, the green color of the meteor mentioned by many users is due to its composition, including “the presence of minerals that vaporize and emit light “ .
This fireball “skimming” , which followed a trajectory of an inclination of 20 °, is passed over the southwest of France and has “gone vertical Perigueux at a height of 37 km ‘ , depending on network knave, whose fifteen cameras have been seen.
“It happened quite slowly, at a speed of 18 km/s, it was evident when he was at 80 km altitude. It is almost certain that disintegrated before reaching the ground “ , said François Colas.
A dozen meteorites fall every year in France
According to the IMO, the meteor was visible for seven seconds in a race of about 120 km between the towns of Bruniquel (Tarn-et-Garonne) and Peyzac-le-Moustier (Dordogne).
“The original fireball was estimated to be between 10 and 20 or 30 centimeters in diameter, small enough that it disappears completely. For to have a meteorite (which affects earth) the object must instead be of one meter or more”, further explained M. Colas, the rating to ” a few kilos”.
According to the Fripon network, a dozen meteorites fall every year in France.
