Shocked Victorian residents see huge ball of light flash across sky
Victorians were shocked to see a huge ball of light, believed to be a part of an asteroid, flash across the sky overnight.
Many jumped on social media as soon as they witnessed the show around 9pm on Wednesday, saying it was “huge” with a “blue and orange tail”.
“I saw it. Came to check I wasn’t hallucinating! It was HUGE!!!” one resident said.
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Residents in Clayton, Brunswick, Mulgrave, Eltham, Chirnside Park, Donnybrook, Berwick, Keilor, Malvern, Box Hill, Deer Park, Williamstown, Maryborough and Ballarat all reported seeing it.
“We were walking in East Ringwood and it literally felt like it flashed right across us it felt so close - it looked green! We couldn’t believe it!” one person wrote on Instagram.
Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker told Sunrise the incredible sight would have been a broken-off piece of asteroid that fractured and hit the Earth’s atmosphere.
“The speed creates a lot of friction, it creates that glowing effect. It can really streak across the sky for hundreds of kilometres,” he said.
“It’s been seen across Victoria, definitely seen into Tasmania as well.
“So a good-size rock, probably 50cm, maybe a metre, probably not too much larger than that.”
