Last week, there was a climate of fear, surprise and uncertainty in the south of Texas, in the United States. A half-ton meteorite fell in that region and videos show how it all happened. The images went viral on social media – watch below.
According to NASA, the meteorite entered the Earth's atmosphere on February 15, outside the town of McAllen. The meteorite was traveling at a speed of 43,000 km/h and, at one point, it broke in two, forming a ball of fire in the sky.
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US television network CBS reported that police officers on the outskirts of the city heard what they described as a explosion in the late afternoon of that same day. In addition, air traffic control in Houston, Texas, would have received reports from aircraft about the incident.
According to the American Meteor Society, this was the third entry by a celestial body into Earth in three days. Before the US, meteorites were seen in France and Italy.
Watch the moment the half-ton meteorite lands in Texas:
ALERT 🚨 Reports of 'meteorite' seen over Mission in South Texas as terrified residents report loud explosion and shaking homes
pic.twitter.com/6TrFeSmDDT
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) February 16, 2023
#BREAKING#Meteor#Meteorite#Texas#Mission
Finally some footage of the meteorite! pic.twitter.com/glXSNZUoHu
— truthseeker (@619blkout) February 16, 2023
What happens when these bodies enter the Earth's atmosphere?
When a meteorite enters the Earth's atmosphere, it is heated by friction with the air at high speeds, which causes cause it to become incandescent and create a bright band of light in the sky, known as a "meteor" or "star". falling”.
The air around the meteorite is also ionized, which creates a trail of light that can be seen with the naked eye. Most meteors completely disintegrate before reaching the Earth's surface due to the heat generated by friction with the air. This can create a sonic boom, which is a sonic boom resulting from the shock wave created by the speeding object.
Furthermore, as explained by NASA in a statement to The New York Post, although these celestial bodies fall at high speed, they slow down as they fall through the atmosphere. Furthermore, they are generally not a risk to the planet or the population.
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.