A bright green fireball that lit up the skies above parts of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in the early hours of Monday has been confirmed by experts as a meteor entering Earth's atmosphere. The spectacle was recorded by observers in several locations, including Hornsea, Billingborough and Moulton Seas End, with sightings reported more widely across northern Europe.
Charlotte Bays of the UK Fireball Alliance said the object became visible at around 00:24 BST. Analysing its trajectory, she explained that any fragments surviving the descent are unlikely to be recovered. “From the trajectory we've analysed, the object travelled over the North Sea,” she said. “That means we don’t expect any meteorite debris to be found.”
The meteor's brightness was likely due to its chemical composition, with elements such as magnesium producing a particularly vivid glow as it burned up. John Maclean of the UK Meteor Network noted that the fireball was not linked to any known meteor shower or astronomical event, but is believed to have originated from a fragment of a larger asteroid. Despite the dramatic display, the meteor was relatively small—estimates suggest it weighed around 12 grams and was travelling at roughly 20,000 miles per hour (32,000 km/h) before disintegrating completely.
While this sighting was an isolated incident, skywatchers may soon have more chances to spot similar phenomena. The annual Lyrids meteor shower is expected to begin in the coming days, with peak activity forecast for 22 April. The shower is best seen in the Northern Hemisphere and is considered medium-strength. In the Southern Hemisphere, viewing is more difficult as the meteors travel north below the horizon.
According to NASA, the best time to witness the Lyrids is during its peak in the dark hours after moonset and before sunrise, just after 10pm on 21 April, with observers advised to look east. Avoiding light pollution is crucial, and no equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is necessary. Stargazers should check weather conditions and allow 20 to 30 minutes for their eyes to adapt to the dark.
