NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick has once again captured a captivating celestial event, this time a bright green meteor explosion in the night sky over Earth. While serving as commander of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission onboard the International Space Station (ISS), Dominick took a series of timelapse photos aimed at capturing the Milky Way’s core. However, fate had other plans, and his camera, positioned over Cairo, Egypt, captured something truly spectacular at 5:42 am (IST) on September 3rd.
Dominick’s camera recorded a vibrant green outburst, which turned out to be a meteor disintegrating upon entering Earth’s atmosphere. This type of bright meteor, known as a bolide, is renowned for its intense luminosity.
Sharing his discovery on social media platform X, Dominick wrote, “I showed this to a couple of friends yesterday to see what they thought,” adding, “They both thought it was a meteor exploding in the atmosphere — a rather bright one called a bolide.” He then released a slowed-down version of the timelapse, one frame per second, showcasing the meteor streaking across the sky before exploding in a spectacular display. The video, captured from the ISS’s Cupola module, comprises 20 individual images.
In a separate comment, Dominick shared a faster version of the timelapse, noting, “It is interesting to compare the size of the bolide blast to other objects in view like the Mediterranean, Cairo, or lightning strikes.” This version highlights the fleeting flash of the shooting star against the backdrop of Earth’s features.
Dominick, already known for his impressive space photography, has captivated audiences with his images of the aurora, moon, lightning, nebula, and more. This latest viral post, featuring the breathtaking green meteor explosion, has garnered over 32.01 lakh views and 21,000 likes in a matter of days. It serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring beauty and constant activity that exist in the vastness of space, captured by the observant eye of an astronaut on the International Space Station.
