Fireball, Volcanic Sunsets Startle Sky Watchers

Space Weather News for April 15, 2010
http://spaceweather.com

MIDWESTERN FIREBALL:  A brilliant fireball streaked across the USA on the evening of April 14th, startling observers in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and surrounding states.  Experts say it was a small asteroid, about a meter wide, that exploded in mid-air with an energy equivalent to some 20 tons of TNT.  National Weather Service radars detected the fireball's debris trail, resulting in maps that could help guide meteorite hunters to fragments on the ground.  Pictures and more information may be found on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

VOLCANIC SUNSETS:  A cloud of ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano is drifting across Europe this week and causing sunsets of surpassing beauty. Europeans are encouraged to look west at the end of the day.  Bonus: If you don't live in Europe, look west anyway. Venus, Mercury and the crescent Moon are beaming through the twilight for all to see.  Check http://spaceweather.com for pictures and sky maps.