Thought I would note the strange suggestion in this article that the fireball over Tasmania might be the same one that was seen over England (look two articles down). You don't have to be a geography expert to see the two countries are basically on opposite sides of the earth. So where are these large objects coming from? |
| Not the Tasmanian Fireball, but a mystery skylight photgraphed in time lapse over California from earlier this year. I'm still searching for photos of the Tasmanian fireball. Clearly, a fireball would leave a straight line as it enters, so no clue as to what this is, but it was seen over several western states. |
A FIERY meteor has lit up the sky over Victoria and Tasmania.
The object, described as a glowing red fireball moving horizontally across the sky about 10.45pm (AEDT) on Sunday, was an unusual sight for this time of year, according to astronomer David Reneke.
Observers say the meteor was visible for about 20 seconds.
Professor Reneke says he and his colleagues are at a loss to explain the timing and exact nature of the meteor.
It may have been a slow-moving piece of rock that ignited or a piece of space junk, he said.
"It's unprecedented, we don't seem to be in a meteor shower period at the moment," Professor Reneke said.
"(Fireballs) tend to be very slow moving and they travel more horizontally than vertically... if you ever see one, they stick in your mind for the rest of your life."
Professor Reneke says he has received dozens of reported sightings from across Victoria and Tasmania.
Social network site Twitter was abuzz today with reports of the meteor.
The phenomenon comes after a fireball was reported in skies over the United Kingdom on Saturday, with police inundated with calls from concerned residents, The Guardian reports.
It is impossible to be sure if the sighted meteors in the UK and Australia are the same, Professor Reneke says.
