Huge fireball caught on camera by a Devon observatory, UK

huge-fireball-caught-on-camera-by-a-devon-observatory-uk

A huge fireball passed over the skies of the UK on June 30, 2014, and was captured by Norman Lockyer Observatory in Devon at 02:04 UTC.

According to Dave Jones from the UK Meteor Observation Network (UKMON) this was the largest ever meteor captured at the observatory.

It is reported to have broken into several pieces as it entered the Earth's atmosphere. Some eyewitnesses said it was green in colour.

The Norman Lockyer Observatory was built in 1912 and is now used by students, researchers and amateur astronomers. Thanks to its coastal location and the lack of light pollution, it is renowned as one of the best places in the UK for spectral analysis.

A bright fireball passing overhead the South Devon coast, as seen from Wiltshire, in the early hours of 30th June 2014. The start of the meteor was recorded on the west facing camera while the end was recorded on the southwest facing camera. For a couple of seconds it would have appeared much brighter than Venus.

These cameras are part of the UK Meteor Observation Network

Featured image credit: Norman Lockyer Observatory

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