All About Japan

Fireball in Japan Identified as Meteorite

Science Illumination Night Views Chiba Kanto

Researchers have identified a fireball seen earlier this month streaking across Japan’s night sky as a meteorite. Witnesses observed the meteoroid at around 2:30 a.m. on July 2, 2020, in the greater Tokyo area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v3pKGmp28c

A resident in the city of Narashino in Chiba Prefecture reportedly heard a loud bang and later located the rock. The National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo says the particle emits gamma rays, indicating it is from space.

The fragment is the 53rd known meteorite discovered in Japan. Officials plan to register it as the “Narashino Meteorite” at an international organization dedicated to planetary science research known as the Meteoritical Society.