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Hundreds report Irish sky blast | Hundreds report Irish sky blast |
(30 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of people have been contacting an Irish astronomy group following reports of a fireball last week. | Hundreds of people have been contacting an Irish astronomy group following reports of a fireball last week. |
Astronomy Ireland said a huge explosion was seen in the skies over the country on Thursday at about 2100 BST. | |
Since then hundreds of people have contacted Astronomy Ireland, many from Northern Ireland, with their account of the event. | Since then hundreds of people have contacted Astronomy Ireland, many from Northern Ireland, with their account of the event. |
Conor Farrell, executive secretary of Astronomy Ireland, said it was most likely to have been a meteorite. | Conor Farrell, executive secretary of Astronomy Ireland, said it was most likely to have been a meteorite. |
"Hopefully we will have an idea of where it landed within the next few days. | "Hopefully we will have an idea of where it landed within the next few days. |
"It would have landed somewhere in Ireland or possibly in the Irish Sea," he said. | "It would have landed somewhere in Ireland or possibly in the Irish Sea," he said. |
He said that the fireball was caused by either rock or metal hitting the earth's atmosphere. | He said that the fireball was caused by either rock or metal hitting the earth's atmosphere. |
However, it does not mean that it was part of an old satellite or other space junk, as many meteorites can comprise large amounts of iron. | However, it does not mean that it was part of an old satellite or other space junk, as many meteorites can comprise large amounts of iron. |
Such events are more common than one might think. | Such events are more common than one might think. |
"There are hundreds of small strikes every day with objects probably no bigger than a pea," Mr Farrell said. | "There are hundreds of small strikes every day with objects probably no bigger than a pea," Mr Farrell said. |
"Sometimes we can see them as brief small trails. | "Sometimes we can see them as brief small trails. |
Larger ones producing fireballs are maybe hitting 20 to 30 times a day on the atmosphere, but a lot of these will happen during the daytime and not be visible and others at night will be when a lot of people are in bed and also unseen." | Larger ones producing fireballs are maybe hitting 20 to 30 times a day on the atmosphere, but a lot of these will happen during the daytime and not be visible and others at night will be when a lot of people are in bed and also unseen." |
The most recent report has been generating a lot of public interest, Mr Farrell added. | The most recent report has been generating a lot of public interest, Mr Farrell added. |
He said they had a fantastic response to their appear for sightings over the weekend, with hundreds of people contacting the group, including many from Northern Ireland. | He said they had a fantastic response to their appear for sightings over the weekend, with hundreds of people contacting the group, including many from Northern Ireland. |
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