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| Meteor fireball spotted in skies over Britain | Meteor fireball spotted in skies over Britain |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Stargazers throughout the UK have reported seeing a meteor-like streak of light in the darkened skies. | Stargazers throughout the UK have reported seeing a meteor-like streak of light in the darkened skies. |
| The BBC was contacted by people in Scotland, the Midlands, Wales, and northern and south west England who saw the display at about 1740 GMT. | The BBC was contacted by people in Scotland, the Midlands, Wales, and northern and south west England who saw the display at about 1740 GMT. |
| One witness driving home from work in Coventry said the light was a bit scary because it was so "incredibly bright". | One witness driving home from work in Coventry said the light was a bit scary because it was so "incredibly bright". |
| Astronomers said the brightness of the meteor, a chunk of space rock burning up in the atmosphere, was unusual. | |
| Dr David Whitehouse. astronomer and former BBC correspondent, said: "It's a bright meteor called a fireball, extraordinarily bright. | |
| "This a chunk of space rock perhaps the size of your fist, perhaps a bit larger, that is burning up as it comes through our atmosphere at an altitude of 60 or 70 miles or so. | "This a chunk of space rock perhaps the size of your fist, perhaps a bit larger, that is burning up as it comes through our atmosphere at an altitude of 60 or 70 miles or so. |
| 'Spectacular' | |
| "So it sounds extraordinary if you're very lucky enough to have seen it; it's quite rare." | |
| Tina Baxter was driving home when she spotted the meteor-like streak. | Tina Baxter was driving home when she spotted the meteor-like streak. |
| She told the BBC: "It was heading north and it appeared directly in front of me. It was travelling east to west. | She told the BBC: "It was heading north and it appeared directly in front of me. It was travelling east to west. |
| "At first I thought it was a firework, but it was travelling at a funny angle - across then down. | "At first I thought it was a firework, but it was travelling at a funny angle - across then down. |
| "It was a bit scary because it was so massive and incredibly bright. When I got home, my brother was there, and he said he saw it as well. | "It was a bit scary because it was so massive and incredibly bright. When I got home, my brother was there, and he said he saw it as well. |
| "I would be surprised if anyone took pictures of it - it appeared for three seconds and then it was gone." | "I would be surprised if anyone took pictures of it - it appeared for three seconds and then it was gone." |
| Keith Levitt, 67, from Aberffraw on Anglesey, said he went outside to empty shopping from the boot of his car at about 1740 GMT when he saw a bright light above. | |
| He told the BBC: "Initially, I thought it was the light from a plane, then I suddenly realised it was a ball with bits coming away from it. I realised it was a meteor. | |
| "It was a large object, I only saw it for two or three seconds. It was going in a low trajectory then petered out into nothing. | |
| "I've never seen anything so large and so close. I've seen shooting stars but this was quite spectacular because it was so large." | |
| Did you see the meteor? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Did you see the meteor? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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