A Japanese company is preparing to create the world’s first artificial meteor shower by launching hundreds of satellites into space.
This spectacular meteor shower was originally scheduled for 2020, but the performance was delayed due to satellite issues.
Now, space startup ALE, based in Tokyo, has revealed that the launch is planned for 2025. This meteor shower will provide the world with “the opportunity to witness the first direct artificial meteor shower in history.”
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a cloud of debris left behind by comets and asteroids in their orbits.
The SKY CANVAS project aims to recreate a meteor shower by deploying “meteor particles” from satellites at an altitude of 400 km, directing them to a designated area.
The first artificial meteor shower is about to happen. (Photo: ALE).
The spherical particles, measuring 0.4 inches in diameter and weighing a few grams, are about the size of a pea and contain a secret chemical formula that causes them to ignite due to friction as they re-enter the planet at speeds of 8 km per second.
According to ALE, these particles will move more slowly and shine for up to 10 seconds longer than actual meteors. The artificial meteor shower will be visible from a distance of approximately 200 km.
The artificial meteors can be observed from a distance of 200 km. (Photo: ALE).
Additionally, the color of each streak can be altered by adjusting the components within the particles, opening up the possibility of creating a multi-colored meteor shower.
Dr. Lena Okajima, Founder and CEO of ALE, stated: “The first step in establishing ALE was to create artificial meteor showers in the lower atmosphere to generate greater interest in space and science in general. In the future, by combining crucial climate research with a new form of space entertainment, we believe we can enhance scientific understanding of climate change and spark curiosity and interest among people around the world in space and the cosmos.”