Meteor-like object causes stir after streaking through sky

Meteor-like object causes stir after streaking through sky

28 February 2024

A UFO spotted shooting through the sky above Co Down is believed to have been a meteor.

Footage of a small object taken near Temple, outside Ballynahinch, has circulated on social media, with it fizzling out as it gained speed.

Andrew Marshall, from the Armagh Observatory, said that it was likely to have been meteor after looking at the video.

“To me it looks like a meteor,” he said. “I don’t know of any satellites that have gone down, so I would say this is the case.

“I would put it in the range of no more than a metre or two metres in diameter. Sadly there is no way to tell from just the video.

“It’s not moving the fastest in the sky, so it’s more than likely an asteroid that’s come from the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. So Jupiter has kicked it out from its orbit with its gravity and it has ended up here”.

Mr Marshall said that despite the excitement, asteroids and meteors aren’t exactly a rare sight.

“We see asteroids all the time,” he continued. “They typically range around 10-20cm, but you would see something like this around every three to four months.”

It’s not the first time a meteor has appeared over Co Down in recent years.

In 2021, a fireball was spotted in the same area falling from the sky. A green fireball also made headlines last 

January after it was captured on video.

Mr Marshall said “it’s just a coincidence” that a meteor has appeared again above the same area.

“Towards this area you’re getting less light pollution, then as you head towards the Irish Sea, things are more clear.

“But there is no reason why this area is more common for seeing them.

“The reason the meteor is fizzling out is because it’s getting incredibly hot as it’s entering the Earth’s atmosphere – it will then break up into 5cm pebbles which will be scattered about.”

Mr Marshall said people may get lucky and spot the fallen fragments as the pebbles are very different from regular rocks.

“If you know what you are looking for, they’re very distinctive,” he added.

“The pebbles are very different to typical rocks – they’re almost glassy in texture and really solid.

“There’ll be no cavities or anything, it’ll be a really solid, black glossy pebble.”

According to Nasa, a meteor is what happens when a meteoroid – a small piece of an asteroid or comet – burns up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, creating a streak of light in the sky.

If it hits the ground, it’s a meteorite.

Northern Ireland wasn’t the only place to see the UFO last week as many people commented under a video published by Co Down Cycling that it was also spotted in Scotland.