Rare Green Fireball Meteor Erupts Above Historic Viking Raid Site in the UK
The Daily Galaxy • • science
Key Points:
- A bright green fireball meteor traveling at 20,000 mph exploded over Lindisfarne Castle in northeast England on April 13, creating a rare and spectacular astronomical event witnessed across the UK and parts of Europe.
- The meteor's green glow was caused by high levels of magnesium and nickel in the rock interacting with Earth's atmosphere, producing an intense burst of light as the fireball disintegrated.
- Over 230 eyewitnesses reported the event to the American Meteor Society, and the fireball was captured on doorbell cameras as far away as Nottinghamshire, sparking widespread public excitement and social media interest.
- This fireball is part of the annual "fireball season" from February to April, during which NASA notes a 10-30% increase in such meteoric events due to Earth's orbital position, though the precise cause remains uncertain.
- While some meteor fragments can survive atmospheric entry as meteorites, this fireball exploded over the ocean, making it unlikely that any debris reached land.
