People in western Cuba said they saw a flare pass through the afternoon sky before black stones fell on the tourist town of Vinales and other parts of the western province. Scientists are investigating.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Y. Lage
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There were two strong explosions reported over Vinales and the Pinar del Rio area in western Cuba on Friday afternoon before small black stones fell to the ground, witnesses said. The largest fragment of about 11 centimeters (4 inches) was found in a small crater.
The meteorite had been seen flying over the Florida Keys earlier on Friday, according to the US National Weather Service in Key West.
Some witnesses said they saw a ball of fire in the sky and others said they felt the walls of their houses shake as they heard a loud noise in the sky.
The head of Cuba's Institute of Geophysics said a meteorite or meteorite fragments struck an area near the Mural of Prehistory in Vinales and that a team was heading to the area to take samples.
At the same time, people in the city of Matanzas, east of the capital, Havana, saw a sphere about a meter in diameter fall into the sea.
Meteorites are solid pieces of debris from objects such as comets, asteroids or meteoroids that come from outer space and survive their passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of the Earth.
Cuba has recorded six other meteorites, the last three in 1938, 1974 and 1994.
Summer is shooting star season
In mid-August, showers of meteors hit Earth. The Perseids return at the same time every year. Open your eyes, you may see a wish come true!
Image: Imago/Leemage
You could almost set your clock to them
Every summer, a large number of shooting stars burn up in our atmosphere. Their names derive from the constellations in our night sky where they appear. In August most of the Perseids will come down, named after the constellation of Perseus. July was already the high point of the Aquariids, named after Aquarius.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Pleul
That's how they come about
The dates for the shooting star showers are the same every year, because they're in line with the solar calendar. Every year on the same day, Earth passes through trails of dust left behind by comets.
Image: Pond5 Images/IMAGO
Tiny particles - shining bright
This is what happens when tiny dust particles enter our atmosphere and burn up. These meteors only have a diameter of one millimeter to one centimeter. The bigger they are, the more beautiful the shooting star appears in the sky.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Reinhardt
Not just in the summer
There are also times in the winter when Earth passes through trails of comet dust. Then the chances of seeing a shooting star are good, as well — for example in November and December. That's when the Leonids and the Geminids hit our planet.
Image: Pedro Punte Hoyos/EFE/imago images
Getting away from the city lights
The best place to observe the shooting stars is far away from artificial light sources, somewhere in nature on a warm summer evening, perhaps, provided there is not constant rain.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/V. Lannert
For tougher nature lovers
Those not afraid of putting on warm winter clothing and going out at night have another option: Enjoy the shooting stars on a cold winter night on top of a mountain. Clear skies and high pressure weather systems make for optimal conditions.
Image: Imago/Eibner
Don't forget your wishes
Even if you're watching shooting stars purely for scientific interest, don't forget to wish someone something good, when you see a meteor. Important: Don't tell anybody, though, otherwise your good intentions will not come true.
