The space rock that entered our planet's atmosphere last week showed a fiery spectacle in the night sky over California. This event was confirmed by the American Meteor Society. It happened on January 30 at about 1.30 am ET.
Since the fireball event is clearly visible even during the day, there have been many reports from people who spotted the object as it flew across the sky, with many witnesses located in San Diego and Los Angeles.
Many videos and photos were also shared among several popular media platforms, sparking a heated debate among users.
The fireball was a meteorite that entered the atmosphere at a speed of 60 km per hour, and not space debris, as originally thought.
After further research, experts concluded that the fireball was formed by a meteor moving at an impressive speed. But there are a few details that remain unclear.
For example, the size of an object remains a mystery. However, it had to exceed a certain limit in order to be able to burn in the atmosphere and not decay upon entry. Large objects can burn for several minutes before they are destroyed or crash into the surface.
The event may have been harmless, but several space agencies are working hard to develop preventive safety measures that will help humanity keep the planet safe if the asteroid follows the collision course.
Several promising solutions are currently being developed, and some of them will be tested in the coming years.