Albacete, Spain - May 2, 2024

[Note: no sound]

On May 2nd, at 1:33:45 AM UTC (3:33 AM CET), a spectacular celestial event illuminated the skies over Albacete and Cuenca. Captured by Alex Gomez and Juan Gomez from Olocau, Valencia, the event was identified as GRAN ALFA BOOTIDA SPMN020524B. Its brilliance was such that it reflected in optics, producing an inverted image.

Adding to the spectacle, the phenomenon saturated the sensor of the Barx-La Drova station in Valencia, operated by Jordi Donet. This event marked one of the brightest bolides captured by the network this year, stunning observers with its vivid colors.

In a separate sighting, a magnificent celestial flare, resembling a large blue bengal light, was observed by Sensi Pastor and Jose A. de los Reyes from Cehegin, Murcia. Preliminary analysis suggests it may have been produced by a chondrite, rich in mafic silicates, which extinguished without producing a meteorite.