This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-11954932
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Meteor fireball spotted in skies over Britain | Meteor fireball spotted in skies over Britain |
| (about 9 hours 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. | 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. | 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' | 'Spectacular' |
| "So it sounds extraordinary if you're very lucky enough to have seen it; it's quite rare." | "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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| BBC News website readers who were lucky enough to see the meteor have been describing it to us. Here is a selection of their comments. | |
| I spotted the fireball from my living room window at around 1730. It was so extraordinary, I jumped to my feet to get a better look but it was gone. My daughters and son thought I had been on the bottle and have poked fun at me most of the night but I knew what I saw was nothing like I had ever seen before in my life. Carolyn Levitt, Honley Holmfirth, West Yorkshire | |
| I was getting my girlfriend from work when I saw the meteor. I told her about it and was mocked as I told her I'd seen a UFO - jokingly of course. It was like a firework blazing across the night sky. Callum Laing, Kirkcaldy, Fife | |
| My family and I had been shopping and I'd just put the key in the door at home when there was a massive burst of orange light that lit up the square. I thought there'd been an explosion in the house opposite us, but when I turned round I managed to catch a glimpse of the meteor just before it passed out of sight. Rebecca, Catterick, North Yorkshire | |
| I saw the fire ball in Swansea. I was having a cigarette outside when I looked up and saw this bright streak of light going across the sky. It lasted for about four seconds - it was amazing to see. Milton, Swansea, West Glamorgan | |
| Myself and three other members of the RAF were driving up the M6, northbound, through Birmingham when a bright streak appeared above, to the right of the car. Initially, I thought it might have been a low flying fighter aircraft, on reheat, due to the speed of the trail across the sky. Having worked on fast jet RAF aircraft, I quickly realised that the trail was fiery, rather than the blue-white jet exhaust normally associated with a fighter jet at night. There were also fiery sparks coming off the trail, almost exactly as if an aircraft was ejecting flares to deter missiles. Chris Fawcett, Albrighton, Shropshire | |
| I'm glad to read this as I'm not one to "see things" but at 1738 (I checked my watch), I noticed a flash with my left eye out of my living-room, spun around and saw two lights in the sky heading north which made a dip, then disappeared. Paul Collins, Sheffield, South Yorkshire | |
| My six year old and my mum saw it and I told them not to be daft! A big firework travelling along the way? Couldn't be right. Now I know it was a meteor. I'm glad they got this once in a lifetime experience. My daughter is so amazed now. Amber, Fife | |
| I was driving up the M1 towards Milton Keynes when I saw it. Must confess at the time I thought it was a duff firework that didn't explode. It was a white streak of light with a greenish edge to it. Ian Chilvers, Luton | |
| I have seen few things so beautiful in my life. It was exceptionally bright against a clear, inky winter night sky. I put its brightness down to the crisp clear atmosphere of the night. It looked like a ball of yellow fire, tinged with orange at the front and with sparks flying from it. It appeared slower than a regular shooting star. Margaret Gardiner, Glenrothes, Fife | |
| Did you manage to take a snap of the fireball? | |
| 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. | |
| Read the terms and conditions |