A HOMEOWNER has told of his shock after watching a suspected meteorite scorch through the sky and impact next to his property.
Dan Charlton was in his back garden in the early hours when he saw a green light and heard a “whoosh” as the object plummeted to earth.
He said: “I went outside and looked up and saw this light and thought, ‘Is that a firework?’
“It was really close.
“It came down in a straight line and what was interesting was it had a green flame, like a hue, that burnt and then disappeared.
“You could hear it make a brief ‘whoosh’ sound and then I was expecting a big bang but it was just silent.
“There was no one else around and I thought ‘that’s definitely a meteorite’.
“I was fascinated. If I had my camera I could’ve caught the last second. That would’ve been awesome.”
The next day, he found a small charred rock lying in a street nearby.
A geologist saw a picture and said it “appears to be a meteorite”.
Dan, from Wakefield, West Yorks, took the rock to the University of Leeds where he met Professor Simon Kelley from the School of Earth and Environment.
Professor Kelley said it was too early to tell if the rock is a meteorite but is carrying out further testing.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
