Meteor Lights Up Minas Gerais Sky, Visible Across Multiple Cities

A meteor illuminated the sky over Minas Gerais, Brazil, on Wednesday evening, November 1st, at approximately 6:20 PM. The phenomenon was observed by residents in Juiz de Fora, Chiador, and other nearby municipalities. The Brazilian Meteor Observation Network (Bramon) confirmed the sighting, with images capturing a bright streak across the sky that vanished within seconds. Marcelo Zurita, Bramon's technical director, stated that the meteor was visible over eastern Minas Gerais and could be seen from many kilometers away due to clear weather conditions. Cameras from Clima ao Vivo, a Bramon partner, recorded the meteor's passage over several locations, including Juiz de Fora, Chiador, Oliveira, Itapecerica, Itajubá, Tiradentes, and even Três Rios in Rio de Janeiro. Zurita explained that a meteor is a luminous event caused by a space rock entering Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, typically exceeding 34,000 km/h. The intense compression and heating of atmospheric gases create a plasma bubble that emits bright light, appearing as a luminous trail. Even small fragments, like a grain of rice, can produce a visible meteor, though they usually vaporize completely. Larger objects are brighter, last longer, and may reach the ground as meteorites.