Red Light and Loud Boom in the Sky Over Cianjur, IPB University Expert Suggests Possible Bolide Phenomenon
A loud booming sound accompanied by a bright flash of light appearing in the sky over the Cipanas area, Cianjur Regency, on Monday night has raised public concern. Several residents reported seeing a red light in the sky followed by a loud explosion-like sound at around 22.15 WIB.
A lecturer from the Department of Geophysics and Meteorology at IPB University, Sonni Setiawan, SSi, MSi., explained that based on weather data analysis, the phenomenon was not related to thunderstorm activity.
“The atmospheric conditions at the time were observed to be normal and showed no indication of extreme weather,” he stated.
In addition, seismograph monitoring did not detect any seismic or volcanic activity. The data showed no increase in activity from Mount Gede nor any movement along fault lines in the Mount Gede–Pangrango area that could be associated with the incident.
He further emphasized that given the normal atmospheric and seismic conditions, the phenomenon was unlikely to be linked to volcanic activity, seismic events, or thunderstorms. However, from a scientific perspective, other possibilities may explain the occurrence of the loud boom and bright flash.
“One of the most plausible natural phenomena is a bolide, or fireball,” he explained.
A bolide is a phenomenon in which a relatively large meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed. Friction with the atmosphere causes the meteoroid to burn rapidly, producing a bright flash of light similar to a meteor.
“If the meteoroid is large enough, it may explode in the atmosphere and generate a sonic shock wave that can be heard as a loud boom by people on the ground,” he elaborated.
The observed flash of light may also result from atmospheric ablation and ionization processes that trigger the release of electromagnetic energy, as described by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
Similar incidents have previously occurred in other regions, including Cirebon several months ago, when a meteor was reported to have reached the Earth’s surface and caused damage to parts of residents’ rooftops.
Nevertheless, he stressed that the bolide hypothesis still requires further verification.
“To determine the exact cause, direct observations and field investigations at the incident location are necessary, including the possibility of finding meteorite material,” he concluded. (AS) (IAAS/CAA)
