The Case of the Mysterious Maybe Meteor

• An object captured crossing a partially eclipsed Sun on August 12, 2026, was initially suspected to be a meteor during the peak of the Perseids shower.
• Analysis revealed the object was actually an airplane contrail after cross-referencing flight data.

Investigation Details

• The 24 frames-per-second video was recorded in Spain at 20:28 local time.
• Observers noted that the object traced a smaller angle than the Sun and Moon (0.5 degrees), which is smaller than typically expected for a meteor.
• The brightness of the object did not extend beyond the Sun, whereas a genuine meteor burning up in the atmosphere would remain visible without solar illumination.

Conclusion

• Experts consulted flight databases to confirm the object's origin.
• The final identification of the "mysterious meteor" as an airplane contrail underscores the importance of verifying celestial observations with local context and aerospace data.