On Tuesday night, a fireball crossed the sky of Bariloche and caused astonishment among those who managed to see it. The rock, which detached from the solar system, surprised the residents and tourists. No astronomical event of this type had been announced.
The phenomenon could also be observed in several Chilean cities, such as Futrono, Los Lagos, Lanco, Río Bueno, and Valdivia.
Un bólido cruzó el cielo de Bariloche
What was this phenomenon about?
According to Daniel Chiesa, an expert in astrotourism: "These are rocks from the solar system that cross into Earth's orbit and enter the atmosphere at high speed," Chiesa explained.
The specialist detailed that these objects incinerate when they come into contact with air molecules, which generates the bright flash that could be seen in the sky.
"It was a total surprise"
Chiesa recounted that he was returning from his astronomical observatory when he witnessed the visual impact of the meteorite.
"The experience was unbelievable, even more so for the people who were with me in the car," he assured.
“La experiencia fue increíble"
Can these meteorites reach the surface?
One of the questions that arose is whether the rock impacted the ground or disintegrated in the atmosphere. According to Chiesa, these events occur at about 100 kilometers (62 miles) in height, so they usually do not reach the surface.
"The explosion was reported in the sky, but these meteorites usually don't fall; they disintegrate before," the expert explained.
Can these phenomena be predicted?
Regarding the possibility of anticipating this type of event, Chiesa clarified that it is not common. "They can't be predicted, they are very small. It was a total surprise," he stated.
