A spectacular meteor blazed across the night sky over Sydney, capturing the attention of observers from distances spanning hundreds of kilometers.
This brilliant celestial event occurred at approximately 6:30 PM, leaving a vivid impression on those in Sydney, Canberra, and various parts of regional New South Wales.
Dr. Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist, confirmed the dazzling display was indeed a meteor.
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“The meteor was visible from Canberra and reached into central New South Wales,” Dr. Tucker explained to nine.com.au.
“The greenish hue suggests it was a meteor composed primarily of iron and nickel,” he added.
“The bright flash midway means it is likely fragmented or broke apart.
“It could 30 to 50 centimetres in size based on the brightness.”
Tucker, an associate professor at Australian National University, said the way a meteor was confirmed was by judging its colour and speed.
“Colours of objects indicate what it is made up of. Space junk is usually more yellow,” he said.
“Meteors are travelling much faster than say satellites or space junk as well and so they cover a larger distance and are in the sky for a shorter time.”
Tucker said it wasn’t unheard of for a meteor to be seen, with “larger meteors like this maybe every month or so across Australia”. The fortunate thing about tonight’s was that it “happened at a good time”.
“Early in the evening, so lots of people were still awake and out and about,” he said.
“They can happen in the middle of the night.”
One person told nine.com.au they were caught off guard by the brightness of the flash that they saw from Waterloo.
“l saw a flash of light in the sky and was so confused, I first thought it was a flare that had been lit,” she said.
“Then I noticed this glowing ball of orange falling from the sky. I’d never seen anything like it.
“The whole sky was lit up for all of 10 seconds.”
