Blazing ‘Fireball’ Dazzles Mexico City Skies: Witness the Spectacle and Join the Meme Craze!

MEXICO CITY (AP) — In the early hours of Wednesday, a bright object streaked across the sky over Mexico, catching the attention of many. At first, people thought it was a meteorite, as it lit up the night above plains, volcanoes, and towns.

Videos of the fireball quickly went viral, sparking a wave of memes on social media. One playful post joked, “No, the meteorite that exploded last night isn’t an excuse to talk to your ex,” paired with a funny GIF of dinosaurs amidst falling meteors.

However, experts clarified that this dazzling display was not a meteorite but a bolide. Bolides, which NASA defines as exceptionally bright meteors, can be seen from a large area and create a spectacular sight.

Mario Rodríguez, an expert in space science at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, explained that the object was a meteoroid—a fragment of a meteor that burned up in the atmosphere. “As these objects descend, they catch fire due to pressure, creating that bright flash and tail,” he said. Unlike meteorites that land on Earth, bolides typically disintegrate before hitting the ground.

Rodríguez noted that this particular meteoroid was about five feet long and posed no danger to people. Such incidents remind us of the transient beauty of our universe and the fascinating dynamics of our atmosphere.

Understanding these events can deepen our appreciation for both astronomy and Earth’s place in the cosmos. Meteor sightings are relatively common; NASA tracks thousands of them each year. In fact, a report noted that more than 16,000 fireballs were confirmed last year alone. As technology improves, people are encouraged to observe and report sightings, contributing to our knowledge.

With the conversation around such celestial events, public interest in space science continues to grow. The excitement surrounding the bolide over Mexico reflects a larger trend where social media plays a significant role in how we share and react to astronomical occurrences.

For further exploration of Latin America’s cosmic wonders, check AP’s coverage at AP News.

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Mexico, Meteors and meteorites, General news, Oddities, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science, Mario Rodrguez, World news