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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Alex Evans & Tom Beattie

Stargazers across UK spot shooting star meteor 'unlike anything' they'd seen with 'trail of flames'

Stargazers across the country have reported a huge flaming meteor 'unlike anything' they'd ever seen burning across the skies.

Stunned onlookers have described looking on equally in amazement and panic as the shooting star-style meteor- which was orange or green in colour with a blazing trail of flames behind it- passed by, Yorkshire Live reports.

Fear not, the sightings are not aliens! They are, in fact an astronomical phenomenon of 'strong and consistent' meteors visible in the UK's skies.

Read more: Northumbria Police officer found drunk behind wheel of police van avoids jail

The meteor is part of the Quadrantid meteor shower that's currently ongoing. In fact, it means more meteors could be on the way - as many as 110 meteors per night could be visible.

Meteors are pieces of debris such as bits of rock or ice that enter the planet's atmosphere at speeds of up to 70km per second, which burn up on entry and cause the streak of light we see as a meteor.

Multiple stargazers took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the striking sight.

@michaelEnglish4 said: "Yes, incredible. I've never seen anything like it in my life. Massive orange red ball of fire. Observed for 10 seconds, no pics. Seen from Twickenham, travelling from the SW to the NE, fizzled out before being too low."

@braders8_GTO said: "Just watched a low flying meteor burn-up over South Bristol! Greenish in colour, looked very low in the night sky."

@jencrossingham said: "Could not be more excited. Just seen a massive meteor shooting over Chelmsford about 20:04. So huge and bright I saw it looking up from my sofa. Still in shock!"

@fleurhitchcock said: "Just seen massive meteor over South London. Big blobby end going north east. Anyone get a pic?"

@cvHTID2022 said: "Oh wow! Just seen a #Meteor #ShootingStar in #Coventry! First time I've ever seen one, it was so bright and long, could see the trail of flames behind it and then it just vanished. I do love the night sky! #Meteorology"

@fizzlew said: "Just saw the most astonishing meteor/fireball of some sort shoot across the sky- stourport 8:03pm had multiple discernible colours - blueish white core, bright red outline and streak - unlike anything I have ever seen. Satellite debris??"

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