The explosion in the Baturité massif was caused by the fall of a small asteroid

The noise in the Massif de Baturité was caused by the fall of a small asteroid, confirms the Brazilian meteorite observation network (Bramon – Brazilian Network for Meteorite Monitoring). According to the astronomer Lauriston Trindade, the first reports indicate that the meteor appeared south of Fortaleza towards the northwest, over the Baturité massif. However, the crash site has yet to be identified. The team needs more information to calculate the fate of the object.

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According to Lauriston, an astronomer who is part of the Brazilian Meteor Monitoring Network team, from the information gathered it is possible to say that the event was of great magnitude. Although the asteroid that fell is small, it was seen moving rapidly, like a very bright meteor, easy to see in daylight. “As the meteor happened during the day, our cameras were off. So we need the reports to come in. With images, photos, videos … ”, he says.

The GOES-16 satellite, monitored by Bramon, captured the energy released by the meteor at exactly 6:40 am. The team records the brightness of the lightning, however, since there was no storm, the only explanation for the captured energy would be the asteroid’s entry into the atmosphere. “With the report of the population, there is no doubt”, guarantees Lauriston, denying the possibility that the accident of the Massif de Baturité was caused by a plane crash. The last meteorological event in Ceará occurred in Campos Sales, in 1991.

Explain that since the sound is slower than the event itself, the crash was only noticed minutes after the crash. “Due to the speed reported by witnesses, such as the case of Orlando Lima, which was in Bezerra de Menezes, the asteroid appeared south of Fortaleza and disappeared further west,” says the astronomer. According to eyewitness reports, at least two blows were heard near the Pacoti and Guaramiranga regions.

Lauriston explains that this must indicate that the object has been fragmented in the displacement. “Being a space rock, it gets very hot and starts to fragment, generating all this noise. Due to its characteristics, it was a small asteroid that entered the atmosphere and must have generated meteorites ”, he details. Bramon’s team believes they have material on the ground, in the Maciço de Baturité region. However, they will only be able to travel to the region, after identifying, through calculations, where the asteroid fell.

LEARN HOW TO HELP

The population can contribute to the work of the Brazilian meteor observation network, sending images, videos and reports to the following address: https://bramon.imo.net/members/imo/report_intro