22/05/2024
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Whereas a meteor lit up the skies over Spain and Portugal these days, it was moreover captured by the Meteosat Third Period Imager local weather satellite tv for pc television for computer hovering 36,000 km away in geostationary orbit.
On 18 May, the meteor burned up throughout the night sky over Spain and Portugal – not solely impressing these lucky ample to see it with their very personal eyes, but it surely absolutely was moreover caught by the fireball digital digital camera in Cáceres, Spain, operated by ESA’s Planetary Defence Office
Attractive meteor captured by ESA’s fireball digital digital camera in Cáceres, Spain
And, zooming all through the skies at over 160,000 km an hour, it was moreover captured by the Lightning Imager on the Meteosat Third Period Imager satellite tv for pc television for computer far-off in geostationary orbit, offering one different perspective on this distinctive event.
As its establish implies, the Lightning Imager may be used to detect lightning, as quickly because it has been completely commissioned following the satellite tv for pc television for computer’s launch on the end of 2022.
The Meteosat Third Period Imager satellite tv for pc television for computer is the first geostationary local weather satellite tv for pc television for computer that has the potential to detect lightning all through Europe, Africa and the encircling waters. It repeatedly shows larger than 80% of the Earth disc for lightning discharges, taking place each between clouds or between clouds and the underside.
The instrument has 4 cameras overlaying Europe, Africa, the Heart East and parts of South America. Each digital digital camera can seize as a lot as 1000 pictures per second and might repeatedly observe lightning train from space.
Info from the Lightning Imager will give local weather forecasters bigger confidence of their predictions of utmost storms, notably in distant areas and on the oceans the place lightning detection capabilities are restricted.
Although designed to watch lightning, it moreover captured the flashes of sunshine from the meteor burning up over Spain and Portugal.
Using preliminary data from the Lightning Imager, the animation above reveals light flashes amassed over six seconds as a result of the meteor strikes all through the instrument’s topic of view.
The Meteosat Third Period mission is a cooperation between Eumetsat and ESA. ESA is accountable creating and procuring six satellites. Eumetsat defines the system requirements, develops the underside strategies, procures the launch suppliers, operates the satellites, and makes the data obtainable to clients.
The Meteosat Third Period satellites are constructed by an enormous consortium of European industries, led by Thales Alenia Space in cooperation with OHB. The progressive Lightning Imager is developed by Leonardo in Italy.
