[meteorite-list] Meteor Explosion Startles Pacific Island Nation of Niue

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 22:05:57 -0500
Message-ID: <B90B7A3C54724AD6A0C373CD8B512564_at_ATARIENGINE2>

http://www.space.com/12573-meteor-explosion-surprises-pacific-island-niue.html

A meteor that exploded over the Pacific Ocean last week
gave a late-night shock to the residents of the small island
nation of Niue, according to press reports.

Niue police officials say the exploding meteor created a
huge bang over the island, waking up some of the 1,200
people who call Niue home, the Agence-France Presse
reported.

Officials with New Zealand's Carter Observatory said the
bang was most likely a fireball from a meteor exploding
about 12 1/2 miles (25 km) above Niue.

One potential source of the fireball is the Perseid meteor
shower, which is currently underway and is expected to
peak on Aug. 13, though the bright full moon may outshine
the "shooting star" display.

AFP reported that the bang occurred Wednesday night
(Aug. 3), though Radio New Zealand stated that the event
occurred on Tuesday evening (Aug. 2).

Mark Chenery, chief of Niue's police force, told Radio
New Zealand that there were no reports of damage, though
he initially thought that a boat had exploded at the Niue
wharf. Radio New Zealand reported that the bang actually
occurred Tuesday night (Aug. 2).

"There was a large, a huge clap of thunder but it was its
normal starry night outside," Chenery told Radio New
Zealand. "People have described seeing a white light,
like a flare, shooting across the sky . it was certainly
heard island-wide."

Meteor explosions and fireballs are caused when a space
rock enters Earth's atmosphere, but does not reach the
ground to become a meteorite. While most meteors burn
up and disintegrate, some can explode to create dazzlingly
loud fireballs.

<from Space.com>

Sterling K. Webb
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Received on Mon 08 Aug 2011 11:05:57 PM PDT