Dashcam Video Catches A Meteor Exploding Over Bangkok

On Monday morning, a giant fireball streaked through the sky over Thailand and then exploded before it could reach the ground. Several different dashboard cameras caught the phenomenon. Thai Astronomical Society president Prapee Viraporn later confirmed that it was actually a small meteor exploding. In astronomy, the term for it is a “bolide.”

Gizmodo put together a compilation (above) of some of the best angles. Being that the meteor could be seen not only in the capital city of Bangkok, but many surrounding provinces, most scientists reassured people it was likely an astronomical event, as many feared it was a plane crash.

A similar thing happened in Russia in 2013. That meteor was much larger, classified as a superbolide. The shock wave from it damaged buildings in six cities near the Ural Mountains.

The Thai meteor was much smaller and faster, according to astronomers, and moving against the spin of the Earth. It likely disintegrated dozens of miles above the ground, and any debris from it would be too small to do any real damage. There have been no reports of any damage from yesterday’s meteor.

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