Fireball over Iceland
Image Credit & Copyright:
Jennifer Franklin
On September 12, from a location just south of the Arctic Circle,
stones of Iceland's
modern Arctic Henge
point skyward in this startling scene.
Entertaining an intrepid group of aurora hunters during a
geomagnetic storm,
alluring northern lights dance across the darkened sky
when a stunning
fireball meteor
explodes.
Awestruck, the camera-equipped skygazers
captured video and still
images
of the boreal bolide, at its peak about as bright as a full moon.
Though quickly fading from view, the fireball left a lingering
visible trail
or persistent train.
The wraith-like trail was seen for
minutes wafting in the upper atmosphere at altitudes
of 60 to 90 kilometers along with the
auroral glow.