A dazzling meteor lit up the pre-dawn sky over Attica on Monday, captivating residents across central Greece.
The phenomenon was analysed by meteorologist Thodoris Kolydas, who provided insights into the striking celestial event.
Eyewitnesses reported a bright flash streaking across the sky in the early hours, later identified as a “bolide”—an exceptionally bright meteor. According to Kolydas, bolides are meteors whose brightness rivals or surpasses that of the brightest planets. For context, Venus, the brightest planet, reaches a magnitude of -4.7 at its peak. Any meteor with a magnitude equal to or lower than this is classified as a bolide.
Kolydas shared further details in a post, revealing that pilots had reported seeing an intense flash over Greece at dawn. The moment was captured on video by a weather camera operated by Vangelis Markoulis at the Meteoacharnes.gr weather station in Menidi.
The meteor’s brilliance was visible from numerous locations in central Greece. Kolydas explained that meteors observed in the early morning tend to move at higher velocities compared to those seen in the evening. This is due to Earth’s orbital motion, which increases the relative speed of incoming meteors at dawn while reducing it in the evening.
The rare sighting left skywatchers in awe, adding to the many celestial wonders visible over Greece’s skies.