A dazzling meteor turned the night sky over Australia into a scene straight out of a sci-fi film, as residents witnessed a bright fireball accompanied by a thunderous sonic boom.
The spectacular event, which occurred in the early hours, was captured on multiple dashcams and home security systems, with footage quickly going viral on social media.
Eyewitness Accounts
"It was like daylight for a few seconds," one Melbourne resident reported. "Then came this enormous bang that shook our windows. At first I thought it was an explosion."
Another witness from Adelaide described the meteor as "the brightest thing I've ever seen in the sky, brighter than the full moon."
Scientific Explanation
Astronomers suggest the event was caused by a small asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere at tremendous speed. The intense heat generated by atmospheric friction caused the space rock to glow brightly before likely disintegrating.
"What people witnessed was the final, dramatic moments of a space traveler that may have been orbiting the sun for millions of years," explained Dr. Sarah Thompson from the Australian Space Agency.
Sonic Boom Phenomenon
The loud explosion heard by residents was a sonic boom created as the meteor broke the sound barrier while descending through the atmosphere. Such events are relatively rare over populated areas.
Authorities confirmed no damage or injuries were reported, though emergency services received numerous calls from concerned citizens.
Meteorite Hunt Underway
Scientists are now examining the trajectory data to determine if any fragments might have survived the intense heat and reached the ground. Amateur astronomers and meteorite hunters are being encouraged to report any potential finds to local universities.
This spectacular cosmic light show serves as a reminder of our planet's constant interaction with space debris, with experts estimating thousands of meteors enter Earth's atmosphere daily - though most go unnoticed over oceans or unpopulated areas.
