Bright Meteor Illuminates Skies Over Spain and Portugal, Wows Skywatchers

When an unexpected meteor shower lit up the night skies, residents of these two countries were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime visual treat.

Those who were able to see the stunning meteor show recorded it with their cameras and shared various aspects of the uncommon astronomical event on social media.

Some of the video clips shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed the meteor shower as seen in Portugal:

JUST IN: Meteor spotted in the skies over Spain and Portugal.

This is insane.

Early reports claim that the blue flash could be seen darting through the night sky for hundreds of kilometers.

At the moment, it has not been confirmed if it hit the Earth’s surface however some… pic.twitter.com/PNMs2CDkW9

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 19, 2024

“JUST IN: Meteor spotted in the skies over Spain and Portugal. This is insane. Early reports claim that the blue flash could be seen darting through the night sky for hundreds of kilometers. At the moment, it has not been confirmed if it hit the Earth’s surface however some reports say it may have fallen near the town of Castro Daire. Other reports say it was closer to Pinheiro.”

Thrilled nature enthusiasts shared their reactions to the meteor shower, whether experienced in person or online.

Two weeks prior, a prediction had indicated that meteors would be shooting across the sky in the next few days as Earth passes through the dusty remnants of the comet Halley, causing the yearly Eta Aquariid meteor shower.

Meteors are space rocks and other materials that burn up as they fall through Earth’s atmosphere, leaving behind bright streaks in the sky. They are also referred to as shooting stars or falling stars.

These meteor showers can originate from comets like Halley’s Comet, which release dust and debris as they revolve around the Sun.

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