Green Fireball Lights Up Australian Sky: ‘One Hell of a Meteor’ Creates Mother’s Day Spectacle
Early risers across Western Australia were treated to a dazzling celestial display on Mother's Day as a bright green fireball blazed across the sky. Described as "one hell of a meteor" by experts, the event sparked awe and wonder, leaving witnesses stunned by the unexpected spectacle.
The meteor, spotted around 6 a.m. local time on Sunday, May 12, was visible from Perth to the Goldfields. Witnesses captured the breathtaking moment on camera, revealing a vibrant green and orange fireball streaking across the pre-dawn sky. The unexpected light show was quickly attributed to a meteor entering the Earth's atmosphere.
Matthew Woods from Perth Observatory estimated the meteor to be anywhere from the size of a cricket ball to a basketball. "That was very nice, nice little surprise for Mother's Day," he remarked, adding that the meteor was likely composed of iron burning in the atmosphere, creating the signature green and orange glow.
Dashcam footage from Coolgardie captured the bolide lighting up the highway, initially mistaken for lightning by the driver. Perth Observatory clarified that the object was likely an iron meteor orbiting within the inner Solar System. The event sparked widespread excitement, with one truck driver exclaiming, "I've never seen anything like it!" Another witness in Mandurah described a "very vibrant green tail with an orange fireball which appeared to explode."
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported hundreds of observations flooding in. While some initially linked the meteor to the re-entry of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482, experts confirmed the two events were unrelated.
Despite the Earth being struck by an estimated 100 tonnes of material annually, Mr. Woods noted that witnessing such a fireball is rare due to the planet's predominantly oceanic surface. Experts are currently attempting to determine whether any remnants of the meteor reached the ground in the Australian outback.
Did you witness the spectacular meteor shower? Share your experience and thoughts in the comments below!
