Jakarta (VNA) – A large meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere and falling into the Java Sea on October 5 evening caused a bright fireball and loud explosion that startled residents in parts of Cirebon city, West Java province of Indonesia, according to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
The meteor reportedly traversed the skies over Kuningan and Cirebon from the southwest between 18:35 and 18:39 (local time) before crashing into the Java Sea.
Several security cameras also captured the glowing object around 18:35, while the Cirebon office of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG)’s ACJM seismic sensor picked up significant ground vibrations at the same moment.
Astronomy professor Thomas Djamaluddin emphasised that the explosions and lights observed by the public posed no danger. He explained that the loud booming sound was generated as the meteor entered the lower atmosphere.
In the coming time, BRIN will continue analysing data from observation stations and satellites to accurately determine the meteorite’s size, trajectory, and impact location. So far, there have been no signs of meteorite debris falling in residential areas./.
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