A bright flash of light appeared over Mayon Volcano on May 25. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) captured the event at 10:33 p.m.
Experts from the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSS) confirmed the light was a meteor entering the atmosphere. Meteors enter the atmosphere every day. Most burn up before they reach the ground.
These objects typically disintegrate at altitudes of 60 to 100 kilometers. They travel at extreme speeds. Friction heats the objects until they vaporize. This heat also ionizes surrounding air molecules. The process creates a glowing streak known as a “shooting star.”
Fragments that survive the trip and hit the ground are called meteorites. The PHIVOLCS footage showed the meteor with Mayon Volcano in the foreground.
Tracking these objects remains difficult. PhilA scientists use radar and optical camera networks to monitor meteors. They also use data analysis and computational modeling to track trajectories.
Bright Meteor Streaks Over Mayon Volcano
