A spectacular celestial display captivated thousands across southern Britain last night as a brilliant meteor streaked across the night sky, creating moments of awe and excitement from London to Wales.
The fireball, visible for several seconds around 10 pm, produced an intense greenish-white glow that illuminated the darkness before fragmenting into multiple pieces. Social media platforms immediately erupted with videos and eyewitness accounts from astonished observers who happened to be looking skyward at the right moment.
Widespread Reports Across Southern England
Reports of the meteor sighting flooded in from multiple counties, with London residents joining those in Cardiff, Bristol, and Birmingham in documenting the rare event. The UK Meteor Network confirmed they had received over 300 reports from members of the public, describing it as one of the most significant meteor events this year.
"It was absolutely breathtaking," said Emma Richardson, a witness from Croydon. "I was putting out the bins when this incredible bright light caught my eye. It moved silently across the sky with this beautiful green trail behind it. I've never seen anything like it."
Scientific Explanation Behind the Phenomenon
Astronomers explain that such fireballs occur when space rocks, typically no larger than a pebble, enter Earth's atmosphere at tremendous speeds—often exceeding 100,000 miles per hour. The intense friction with our atmosphere causes them to heat up and vaporize, creating the brilliant light show visible from the ground.
Dr. Sarah Wilkinson from the Royal Astronomical Society noted: "While small meteors enter our atmosphere regularly, ones bright enough to be seen over populated areas and during evening hours are relatively rare. This appears to have been a particularly large and slow-moving object, which allowed more people to witness it."
When to Spot More Celestial Events
For those inspired by last night's display, astronomers recommend keeping an eye on the sky during known meteor showers. The next significant opportunity will be the Orionids in October, followed by the famous Leonids in November, which typically produce more frequent meteor activity.
Experts also encourage anyone who witnessed the event or captured footage to report their sightings to the UK Meteor Network, as this data helps scientists track the object's trajectory and potentially locate any meteorites that may have reached the ground.
