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| Large meteor spotted in night sky in England and Wales | Large meteor spotted in night sky in England and Wales |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A meteor has been spotted travelling across the night sky by people in many parts of England and Wales. | A meteor has been spotted travelling across the night sky by people in many parts of England and Wales. |
| Sightings of the celestial body were reported on Twitter in areas such as Cornwall, Hampshire, Lancashire, south Wales and Worcestershire. | Sightings of the celestial body were reported on Twitter in areas such as Cornwall, Hampshire, Lancashire, south Wales and Worcestershire. |
| Suzy Buttress, of Basingstoke, described witnessing the meteor as a "once in a lifetime thing". | Suzy Buttress, of Basingstoke, described witnessing the meteor as a "once in a lifetime thing". |
| Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock said the phenomenon was likely to have been debris from Halley's Comet. | Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock said the phenomenon was likely to have been debris from Halley's Comet. |
| 'Ball with tail' | 'Ball with tail' |
| Ms Buttress, who was driving home on the M3 when she saw the meteor, told the BBC: "It was amazing, so big, bigger than a shooting star. It had a strange greenish tinge to it, with a definite tail behind it. | Ms Buttress, who was driving home on the M3 when she saw the meteor, told the BBC: "It was amazing, so big, bigger than a shooting star. It had a strange greenish tinge to it, with a definite tail behind it. |
| "This was definitely a ball with a tail. It took its time going across the sky. It went behind a cloud, then came out the other end. | "This was definitely a ball with a tail. It took its time going across the sky. It went behind a cloud, then came out the other end. |
| "At first I hoped it wasn't an aircraft crashing. It's a once in a lifetime thing." | "At first I hoped it wasn't an aircraft crashing. It's a once in a lifetime thing." |
| Richard Escott, a security supervisor for the BBC in Cardiff, explained what he saw. | Richard Escott, a security supervisor for the BBC in Cardiff, explained what he saw. |
| "I was standing outside having a bit of fresh air and as I turned round I saw this very bright blue light which was dimming," he said. | "I was standing outside having a bit of fresh air and as I turned round I saw this very bright blue light which was dimming," he said. |
| "It was coming very steadily, progressing across the night sky, but it was at sort of building level and then died out to nothing. I saw it for about five, 10 seconds." | "It was coming very steadily, progressing across the night sky, but it was at sort of building level and then died out to nothing. I saw it for about five, 10 seconds." |
| 'Caught attention' | 'Caught attention' |
| Dr Aderin-Pocock explained what could have caused the spectacle. | Dr Aderin-Pocock explained what could have caused the spectacle. |
| "Unfortunately, I didn't see this meteor myself, but I think what's unusual is the size of this one," he said. | |
| "With meteor showers people will see a number of meteors over an hour, so let's say six or 10 an hour. | |
| "It seems that this one was particularly large and particularly bright, which is why it's caught so much attention. | "It seems that this one was particularly large and particularly bright, which is why it's caught so much attention. |
| "It's quite likely to be part of the Eta Aquarids, which is the debris left by Halley's Comet. | "It's quite likely to be part of the Eta Aquarids, which is the debris left by Halley's Comet. |
| "And twice a year we pass through the debris left behind by the comet and when this happens we see more of these shooting stars but there must have been a large lump left behind which is what caused such a bright meteor to be seen." | "And twice a year we pass through the debris left behind by the comet and when this happens we see more of these shooting stars but there must have been a large lump left behind which is what caused such a bright meteor to be seen." |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (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 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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