Residents of Melbourne were treated to a breathtaking celestial spectacle as a brilliant meteor blazed across the night sky, leaving eyewitnesses stunned and scrambling for their cameras.
The fireball, visible across much of Victoria, lit up the darkness with an intense greenish-blue glow around 9:30 PM local time, according to numerous reports from astonished observers.
Eyewitness Accounts
"It was like nothing I've ever seen before," said local resident Sarah Thompson. "The entire sky lit up for a few seconds - at first I thought it was fireworks, but it moved so fast and left this incredible trail behind it."
Social media immediately exploded with photos and videos of the event, with many users describing hearing a loud sonic boom following the meteor's passage.
Expert Analysis
Astronomers suggest this was likely a small asteroid fragment entering Earth's atmosphere at tremendous speed. "When these space rocks collide with our atmosphere at speeds exceeding 70,000 km/h, they compress the air in front of them, creating that characteristic bright glow," explained Dr. James Peterson from Melbourne University's Astrophysics Department.
The greenish coloration, experts say, indicates the presence of nickel and magnesium in the meteor's composition.
Rare Astronomical Event
While small meteors enter Earth's atmosphere regularly, visible events of this magnitude are relatively rare in urban areas. "Most burn up over oceans or uninhabited regions," noted Peterson. "For one to be seen so clearly over a major city like Melbourne makes this particularly special."
Authorities have received no reports of damage or injuries, though some residents in outlying areas reported feeling slight vibrations from the sonic boom.
