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interested_learner
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I saw a bright green meteor yesterday. What would cause a meteor to be bright green? Is this common?
DENVER FIREBALL: Something from space disintegrated over Denver, Colorado, this morning around 6:20 am MST (1320 UT). Witnesses describe it as "brilliant, slow, twinkling, sparkly and full of rainbow colors." It was not a meteor. The fireball was the decaying body of a Soyuz U rocket that launched the French COROT space telescope on Dec. 27th. The re-entry caused no damage on the ground--just a beautiful display in the sky. More: news video, ground track, amateur photo.
The bright green color of the meteor is likely due to the presence of certain elements in the meteor, such as magnesium and nickel. When these elements burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, they emit a bright green light.
Bright green meteors are not as common as other colors, such as white or yellow. However, they do occur from time to time and are not considered extremely rare.
The speed of the meteor can vary, but on average, they travel at around 40,000 to 260,000 miles per hour. The specific speed of the bright green meteor would depend on its size and composition.
Currently, we do not have the technology to accurately predict when and where specific meteors will appear. However, with advancements in technology, scientists may be able to make more accurate predictions in the future.
No, these types of meteors do not pose any danger to Earth or its inhabitants. They typically burn up in the atmosphere before hitting the ground, and even if they do reach the Earth's surface, they are usually small and harmless.