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WATCH: 'Small meteor' lights up Cape night sky

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Social media users reacted with awe at a meteor that passed over the Western Cape on Wednesday night in loud, fiery fashion.

People from Hermanus to Cape Town were amazed as a flash across the sky at about 20:00 culminated in a loud explosion.
Social media users reacted with awe at a meteor that passed over the Western Cape on Wednesday night in loud, fiery fashion. People from Hermanus to Cape Town were amazed as a flash across the sky at about 20:00 culminated in a loud explosion.

Social media was ablaze with talk about a meteor that lit up the Western Cape sky in loud, fiery fashion on Wednesday.

The flash, which culminated in a loud explosion, was spotted at about 20:00 from Hermanus to Cape Town. 

Read more: 'Who else just saw that?' - 'Small meteor' lights up the Cape night sky

One lucky farmer managed to capture the event on CCTV camera. 

Janneman Louw, who farms about 20km outside of Malmesbury, told News24: "We were outside when my son Niel saw the meteor. It was very bright. He suggested that we check the cameras."

Louw's camera pinpointed the event to 20:15. The flash on the video is only seen for a few seconds. 

"The object was almost certainly a small meteor - most likely around a metre across when it entered the atmosphere," Dr Daniel Cunnama, science engagement astronomer at the South African Astronomical Observatory, told News24.

"It is unlikely any fragments reached the ground," he added. 

"Such small objects pose very little danger and will disintegrate in the upper atmosphere. Larger objects over 10m to 20m are more likely to impact the ground, but the likelihood of them hitting land or a human settlement, is still very small."


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