What Causes the Green Tint in Some Meteors?

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    Green Meteor
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the observation of a meteor with a green tint, exploring potential causes for this coloration. Participants consider various explanations related to the nature of meteors and their composition.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes witnessing a bright meteor with a green tint and seeks explanations for this phenomenon.
  • Another suggests that the object might have been space junk burning up upon re-entry, proposing that tracking organizations could provide confirmation.
  • A different participant shares their experience of seeing a bright green fireball at a public event, noting that it was reported widely and mentions having seen a blue one as well.
  • One participant hypothesizes that the presence of copper in the meteor could be responsible for the green coloration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views regarding the cause of the green tint in meteors, with no consensus reached on a single explanation.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on the definitions of meteors versus space junk, and the discussion does not resolve the specific conditions or compositions that lead to different colors in meteors.

Liger20
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Hello, I have a question for the astronomy people here. Last night I was outside around 10 P.M, and at one point I just happened to be staring up into the western sky when I saw one of the brightest, most beautiful meteors I have ever seen. The weird thing is that it had a faint green tint to it. Does anyone have any idea as to what would cause this? I’m positive it was not a firework, it was way too high in the sky and way too bright. Plus, there was nobody in the vicinity shooting off fireworks, and there was absolutely no sound associated with it.

Thanks!
 
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It may have been a meteor, and it might have been one of the many thousands of pieces of space junk burning up on re-entry. There are organizations that track the space junk, and perhaps one of them could confirm that an objected de-orbited last night. Maybe a Google search would help...?
 
I saw a very bright green fireball
I as at a football game in the orange bowl
it was that bright to be seen over the stadium lights
and was widely reported in newspapers on the east coast in many states

I have also seen a blue one

metal content is thought to give colors
 
Probably a lot of copper in it.
 

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