Huge fireball over the Channel on Sept. 5

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A very bright and sonic fireball was observed, heard and reported by more than 400 witnesses from both sides of the Channel on September 5, 2021, 21h 47min UT. The event was captured by numerous dashcams and Fripon video stations.

More than 600 witnesses from France and UK

More than 600 witnesses (Figure 5) reported the very bright and impressive fireball that occured on September 5, 2021, 21h 47min UT, many of them reporting related sonic booms and other sounds. An event sometimes reported by “frightening” even by regular observers, seen the intensity of the flash it generated. Actually, the meteoroid entered the atmosphere above the Atlantic ocean, below Brittany, and travelled North, passing the extreme point of the region and ending its light path above the Channel.

It was captured by several dashcam cameras, as well as three video stations of Fripon (Fireball Recovery and InterPlanetary Observation Network) (available on open Fripon database, Figures 1 to 3) as well as UK Meteor Network stations (Figure 4):

Figure 4- September 5, 2021, 21h47 UT fireball captured by UKMon Wilcot station. Credit: UKMon

Figure 4- September 5, 2021, 21h47 UT fireball captured by UKMon Wilcot station (Wiltshire, England). Credit: UKMon

 

Figure 4- More than 400 persons reported their observations of the September 5, 2021, 21h47 UT fireball. They were located in North-Westerns France, and South-Western UK. Credit: IMO/AMS
Figure 4- More than 600 persons reported their observations of the September 5, 2021, 21h47 UT fireball. They were located in North-Western France, and Southern UK. Credit: IMO/AMS

No expected meteorites recovery

According to Fripon calculations, the 20 cm diameter and 40 kg meteoroid entered the atmosphere at a 21.5 km/s speed and a 34° angle relative to the horizontal. This indicates the interplanetary object did not survive the atmospheric entry and fully sublimates. Anyway, the computed trajectory enlights that the meteoroid started being luminous whilte it was vertical to Quimper (Brittany), and disappeared North-West of Brest, which indicates its path was directed into the Western parts of the English Channel (Figure 6).

Figure 6- Calculated trajectory of the September 5, 2021, 21h47 UT fireball. Credit: Fripon/Vigie-Ciel
Figure 6- Calculated trajectory of the September 5, 2021, 21h47 UT fireball. Credit: Fripon/Vigie-Ciel

 

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