English (UK)
Two bright fireballs have been observed in South Spain during last November 18th night. Both of them have been recorded from Calar Alto Observatory, as well as from fireball detection stations working at La Sagra (Granada), La Hita (Toledo) and Sevilla Observatories.
The preliminary analysis carried out by Professor Madiedo (University of Huelva) points that the first fireball flew over Mediterranean Sea at 22:54 (Spanish local time), starting at an altitude about 104 km above the sea level, and extinguishing at about 57 km over Mediterranean Sea.
The second fireball flew from east to west over a great part of Malaga province (South of Spain) at 23:06 (Spanish local time). This second fireball started at an altitude of about 101 km above the ground, while its final altitude was about 57 km.
Both objects are associated to the Taurids meteor shower produced by meteoroids detached from comet Encke.
Path trajectories followed by the fireballs on November 18th can be seen below.
The videos below show both fireballs. First fireball could be recorded from both south surveillance webcam and fireball detection station, while the second object only could be detected with west surveillance webcam.
Calar Alto (CAHA) fireball detection station, together with the one at the Observatory of Sierra Nevada (IAA-CSIC) and others placed at different locations in Spain, are part of the S.M.A.R.T. project led by Professor José María Madiedo (University of Huelva) to track that kind of objects. Specifically, Calar Alto (CAHA) station and the one at Sierra Nevada (IAA-CSIC) constitute a collaboration agreement between Professor Madiedo and both institutions.