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| NASA Confirms Meteor Fireball Over Cirebon: Scientists Reveal Rare Sky Phenomenon |
BLOGSIA.EU.ORG - A mysterious fireball lit up the night sky over Cirebon, West Java, in October 2025, sparking widespread curiosity among residents and social media users. Scientists from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have confirmed that the spectacular event was indeed caused by a meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA, the United States space agency, has previously explained in detail the origins of meteors and the differences between the commonly confused terms meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite — three stages of the same celestial object depending on its location and interaction with Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA’s Explanation: From Meteoroid to Meteorite
According to NASA’s scientific report, a meteoroid refers to a space rock orbiting the Sun, varying in size from a grain of dust to a small asteroid. These fragments often originate from asteroids, comets, or even planetary debris such as that from the Moon or Mars. They are composed of rock, metal, or a mixture of both.
When a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, it encounters extreme friction and heat, creating a bright streak of light known as a meteor. This is the phenomenon popularly referred to as a “shooting star.” Some meteors burn so brightly that they are classified as fireballs, often outshining the planet Venus in brightness.
NASA estimates that Earth is hit daily by meteoric material totaling around 48.5 million tons, though most of it disintegrates before reaching the ground.
The small percentage of material that survives atmospheric entry and lands on Earth is called a meteorite. These fragments can vary in size — from tiny pebbles to larger stones that can fit in a person’s hand.
Meteor Over Cirebon: BRIN Confirms the Phenomenon
In Indonesia, the latest meteor incident caught the attention of Thomas Djamaluddin, a senior researcher at BRIN’s Space Research Center. Based on his analysis of multiple images and weather data from BMKG Cirebon, Thomas concluded that the glowing object was a large meteor.
“I concluded that it was a fairly large meteor that entered the atmosphere over the Kuningan–Cirebon area from the southwest direction between 18:35 and 18:39 WIB,” Thomas said in an Instagram post cited on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
The brief but striking flash was visible for several seconds, creating a luminous trail before disappearing. Residents across Cirebon, Kuningan, and surrounding regions reported seeing a bright streak cutting across the evening sky.
The Science Behind Meteor Showers
NASA notes that similar events occur more predictably during meteor showers, which happen when Earth passes through trails of debris left behind by comets or asteroids. Despite the name, meteor showers do not involve rainfall — instead, they are the visual result of small dust and rock particles burning up upon entering the atmosphere.
Each meteor shower is typically named after the constellation from which the meteors appear to originate. Among the most famous is the Perseid Meteor Shower, observable every August 12, which is caused by remnants of Comet Swift-Tuttle that orbits the Sun every 135 years.
The fragments responsible for such displays are often no larger than grains of sand, ensuring they completely vaporize before reaching the ground.
Meteorites: Rare Treasures on Earth
Distinguishing meteorites from ordinary rocks can be challenging. However, in desert environments, meteorites are easier to spot due to their dark, metallic color that contrasts sharply against pale sand.
Astronomers emphasize that most space rocks entering Earth’s atmosphere are about the size of a football field but disintegrate due to intense pressure and heat before impact. Only about five percent of any meteoroid survives long enough to strike Earth’s surface.
The Cirebon meteor serves as a vivid reminder of Earth’s constant interaction with cosmic debris. For NASA and BRIN scientists alike, every fireball that blazes across the sky is an opportunity to better understand the origins of our solar system — and to remind us of just how alive the night sky really is.
Meteorites: Rare Treasures on Earth
Distinguishing meteorites from ordinary rocks can be challenging. However, in desert environments, meteorites are easier to spot due to their dark, metallic color that contrasts sharply against pale sand.
Astronomers emphasize that most space rocks entering Earth’s atmosphere are about the size of a football field but disintegrate due to intense pressure and heat before impact. Only about five percent of any meteoroid survives long enough to strike Earth’s surface.
The Cirebon meteor serves as a vivid reminder of Earth’s constant interaction with cosmic debris. For NASA and BRIN scientists alike, every fireball that blazes across the sky is an opportunity to better understand the origins of our solar system — and to remind us of just how alive the night sky really is.
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