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2015 Kerala meteoroid

Coordinates: 9°59′N 76°17′E / 9.98°N 76.28°E / 9.98; 76.28
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2015 Kerala meteorite
Date27 February 2015
Time22:00 PM IST (UTC +5.30 hours)
LocationValamboor and Kuruppampady, in Ernakulam, Kerala
Coordinates9°59′N 76°17′E / 9.98°N 76.28°E / 9.98; 76.28
TypeFireball
CauseAir burst of small meteor

The 2015 Kerala fireball was a meteor air burst that occurred over Kerala state in India on 27 February 2015.[1]

Initial reports

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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.[citation needed] 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

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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]

See also

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References

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  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. Archived from the original on 3 March 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. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.