Unexpected Comet Fragment Lights Up Iberian Skies

A blue-green fireball stunned onlookers in Spain and Portugal before disintegrating over the Atlantic Ocean.

The European Space Agency confirmed the object was a comet fragment, not a meteor.
The fireball traveled at 45 kilometers per second, creating a bright blue-green glow due to its magnesium content.
Footage captured by ESA's 'fireball camera' showed the comet fragment burning up at an altitude of 60 kilometers.
Astronomers were surprised by the event as the comet was not detected prior to its atmospheric entry.
The incident highlights gaps in planetary defense, echoing past unpredicted celestial events like the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor.