According to a report from the Times of Israel, Israeli experts said an unusually bright meteor was visible over the country on Saturday afternoon, with some observers reporting to have heard a large explosion afterward.
The Israeli Astronomical Association (IAA) said it had received reports of the bolide being visible for several seconds over central and northern Israel at around 5:16 p.m., traveling northeast. Several residents of central Israel reported hearing a loud blast shortly after.
תיעוד של המטאור שנצפה בשמי ישראל ונקרא "בוליד" pic.twitter.com/7YcdnDkFJM
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“Such an explosion may be heard in the event that the bolide is caused by a relatively large stone and depending on its composition,” the IAA said. An image shared by the IAA showed a fiery streak in the sky. A visible bolide over Israel is a relatively rare occurrence.
It was unclear if pieces of the meteor survived its descent through the atmosphere. A meteor piece that survives passage to the ground is known as a meteorite.
