2015 Kerala meteorite

The 2015 Kerala fireball was a midair meteor blast that occurred during its descent to Earth over Kerala state in India on 27 February 2015.[1]

2015 Kerala meteorite
Date27 February 2015
Time22:00 PM IST (UTC +5.30 hours)
LocationValamboor and Kuruppampady, in Ernakulam, Kerala
Coordinates9.98°N 76.28°E / 9.98; 76.28
TypeFireball
CauseAir burst of small meteor

Initial reports

The fireball, reportedly accompanied by a sonic boom, was noticed across the sky in parts of Thrissur, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala at around 22:00 PM IST(local time, UTC +5.30 hours) for about 5 to 6 seconds.[2]

Initial reports suggested that it may have been a part of a rocket body used to launch the Yaogan Weixing-26, a Chinese satellite launched in December 2014. Later, the Meteorology Department and Disaster Management Authority of Kerala refuted the theory stating that if this was the case, it should have been spotted by the meteorology radars.[3]

Impact sites

Meteorites (meteoroid debris) hit multiple places in Ernakulam district. Small fragments which are believed to be parts of the meteoroid were recovered from Valamboor, near Kolenchery, and Kuruppampady, near Perumbavoor.[4]

A team of scientists from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and Geological Survey of India visited the impact sites and collected samples for analysis. A preliminary report indicated that the fragments' chemical composition consist of nickel and iron ore.[5]

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See also

References
  1. "'Fireball in sky' triggers panic in city" (updated 2015-03-01). The Hindu. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  2. "Panic among residents as fireballs light up Kerala sky". Hindustan Times. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  3. "Many Theories as Fireballs Light Up Kerala Sky". New Indian Express. 28 February 2015.
  4. "It was a meteoroid, experts conclude". The Hindu. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  5. "Scientists Examine 'Rocks', Confirm Kerala Meteor Fall". The New Indian Express. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
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