After examining the published images, Yilmaz, an expert on space, stated that it was difficult to say clearly whether the object was a meteor or not. Stating that the speed of the object entering the atmosphere was low and that it was different from meteors, Yılmaz said, “Meteors enter the atmosphere much faster. While the lowest speed is 40 thousand kilometers per hour, the speed of this object seems to be lower. Therefore, it is likely to be space debris.”
Noting that there are thousands of satellites in space, Yilmaz stated that the object seen in the sky could be a piece that broke off from a space station, rockets or satellites. He also made statements about whether the impact of the falling object would be felt.
If the falling object had been a meteor, Yilmaz emphasized that its impact would have been felt, and that there would have been signs such as a crater, forest fire or small-scale tsunami that would have been created by the explosion. Yilmaz said that most of the particles that enter the atmosphere have already melted and disappeared and do not reach the ground, so there would have been significant effects if a meteor had fallen.
Emphasizing that meteor falls are natural processes, Yilmaz stated that thousands of particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere every year and most of them disappear harmlessly. However, he stated that meteors larger than 30 meters in diameter can cause serious damage.
Stating that if a piece falling from the sky is encountered, it should not be touched and the authorities should be notified immediately, Yılmaz reminded that these pieces may sometimes contain radiation and can be dangerous.
