ESA’s fireball camera in Cáceres, Spain, captured this stunning meteor on Saturday evening, May 18, 2024. Credit: ESA/PDO/AMS82 – AllSky7 Fireball Network
A meteor lighting up the skies over Spain and Portugal was captured by the Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite and a ground-based camera in Spain. This event showcased the capabilities of the new Lightning Imager, which is designed for advanced atmospheric monitoring, especially of lightning phenomena.
On May 18, the meteor burned up in the night sky over Spain and Portugal – not only impressing those lucky enough to see it with their own eyes, but it was also captured by the Fireball Camera in Cáceres, Spain, operated by ESA’s Planetary Defense Office.
And as it zoomed through the sky at more than 100,000 miles per hour, it was also captured by the Lightning Imager of the Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite hovering 22,000 miles away in geostationary orbit, providing a different perspective. about this remarkable event.
As the name suggests, the Lightning Imager will be used to detect lightning once it is fully commissioned following the satellite’s launch in late 2022.
ESA’s fireball camera in Cáceres, Spain, captured this stunning meteor on the night of May 18-19, 2024 (00:46 CEST May 19 / 10:46 PM). UTC May 18). Credit: ESA/PDO/AMS82 – AllSky7 Fireball Network
Advanced lightning detection technology
The Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite is the first geostationary weather satellite capable of detecting lightning across Europe, Africa and surrounding waters. It continuously monitors more than 80% of the Earth’s disk for lightning discharges, which occur between clouds or between clouds and the ground.
The instrument has four cameras covering Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of South America. Each camera can capture up to 1,000 frames per second and will continuously detect lightning activity from space.
Improved weather forecasts
Data from the Lightning Imager will give weather forecasters more confidence in their predictions of severe storms, especially in remote areas and on the oceans where lightning detection capabilities are limited.
Although designed to monitor lightning, it also captured the flashes of light from the meteor that burned up over Spain and Portugal.
And as it zoomed across the sky at more than 100,000 miles per hour, it was also captured by the Lightning Imager of the Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite, far away in geostationary orbit, providing a different perspective on this remarkable event offered.
While a meteor recently lit up the skies over Spain and Portugal, it was also captured by the Meteosat Third Generation Imager weather satellite hovering 35,000 km away in geostationary orbit. Based on preliminary data from the Lightning Imager, the animation here shows flashes of light collected over six seconds as the meteor moves through the instrument’s field of view. Credit: ESA/EUMETSAT
As the name suggests, the Lightning Imager will be used to detect lightning once it is fully commissioned following the satellite’s launch in late 2022.
The Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite is the first geostationary weather satellite capable of detecting lightning across Europe, Africa and surrounding waters. It continuously monitors more than 80% of the Earth’s disk for lightning discharges, which occur between clouds or between clouds and the ground.
The instrument has four cameras covering Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of South America. Each camera can capture up to 1,000 frames per second and will continuously detect lightning activity from space.
Data from the Lightning Imager will give weather forecasters more confidence in their predictions of severe storms, especially in remote areas and on the oceans where lightning detection capabilities are limited.
Although designed to monitor lightning, it also captured the flashes of light from the meteor that burned up over Spain and Portugal.
Based on preliminary data from the Lightning Imager, the animation above shows the flashes of light collected over six seconds as the meteor moves through the instrument’s field of view.
Collaborative satellite mission
The Meteosat Third Generation mission is a collaboration between Eumetsat and ESA. ESA is responsible for the development and purchase of six satellites. Eumetsat defines the system requirements, develops the ground systems, purchases the launch services, operates the satellites and makes the data available to users.
The Meteosat Third Generation satellites are being built by a large consortium of European industries, led by Thales Alenia Space in partnership with OHB. The innovative Lightning Imager was developed by Leonardo in Italy.