238,000 km/h fireball races north-west of Balearics

A fragment from a comet enters the atmosphere north-west of the Balearic Islands at an estimated 238,000 kilometres per hour between 10 and 11 September. Calar Alto Observatory in Gérgal, Almería, records the fireball. The observatory classifies it as a superbolide.

The fragment had broken away from a comet, according to Calar Alto.

The observatory also records two further fireballs on 19 and 20 September: an asteroid-like object over the Gulf of Cádiz and a comet-like one off Alhucemas, Morocco.

The 19 September object travels at 97,000 kilometres per hour from an initial height of 98 kilometres. Six further stations record it, including stations in Huelva, Granada and Seville.

The comet-like fireball on 20 September travels at 65,000 kilometres per hour from an initial height of 91 kilometres. It is visible at 20.47 Spanish mainland time, minutes before sunset and while there is still considerable daylight. Stations in La Sagra, Olocau and Mazagón also record it.

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com