Bright light over Mayon Volcano caused by meteor

Bright light seen over Mayon Volcano on Sunday, May 25. (Photo by Phivolcs)

MANILA, Philippines — The bright streak of light seen over Mayon Volcano on the evening of Sunday, May 25, was caused by a meteor, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said.

In a statement released Tuesday, May 26, PhilSA explained that when a meteor enters the atmosphere, “a brilliant flash of light” is often produced.

The light was captured by a camera of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology at Ligñon Hill at 10:33 p.m. while the volcano was undergoing an effusive eruption.

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“While meteors or space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere daily, the vast majority burn up completely before reaching the ground,” PhilSA said.

Meteors usually burn up at altitudes of 60 to 100 kilometers above sea level.

As they plunge through the atmosphere at extreme speeds, friction heats them intensely, causing them to vaporize.

“This heat also ionizes the air molecules around them, creating the bright, glowing streak we see as ‘shooting stars,’” PhilSA said.

Fragments large enough to survive atmospheric entry and hit the ground are classified as meteorites.

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The effusive eruption at Mayon Volcano has continued for more than 140 days, generating incandescent lava flows, pyroclastic density currents, or “uson,” and rockfalls.

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Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano, and entry into the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone remains prohibited. /dm