Astronomer Yakushechkin: the fireball seen in Izhevsk does not belong to the Leonids meteor shower
The fireball that was noticed by Russians in Izhevsk, Yoshkar-Ola, Perm and Kazan does not belong to the Leonids meteor shower. This was stated by the Crimean astronomer Alexander Yakushechkin, his words are reported by RIA Novosti.
The scientist explained that the object is a bolide resembling a celestial body in the trajectory of its entry into the atmosphere and several bright flashes, which was observed by residents of the north western regions of Russia.
“As for whether he is a representative of the Leonids meteor shower, it is safe to say that he is not. At the time of the fall of the fireball, the radiant and the constellation Leo itself were behind the horizon, about 7.5 degrees below it, “the astronomer said, noting that the flight of the fireball during the greatest activity of the meteor shower was just a coincidence.
Earlier, residents of Izhevsk, Yoshkar-Ola, Perm and Kazan noticed in the sky the fall of a luminous object similar to a meteorite. The corresponding videos appeared on the net. According to the Moscow Planetarium, on the night of November 17-18, the maximum activity of the Leonids meteor shower occurred.