A space rock entered Earth's atmosphere last night, creating a dramatic fireball over the North Sea. "We all screamed when it happened, I was so excited!" reports Ian Sproat who photographed the object from the Northumberland coastline of England:
North Sea Fireball
© Alisha H

"I was out taking pictures of the Milky Way rising over Lindisfarne (also known as 'Holy Island') when this huge fire ball passed through the frame creating an insane contrast of stars, landscape, and drama," he says.

So far the American Meteor Society (AMS) has received 195 reports of this big event from both sides of the North Sea. Some observers say it was much brighter than a Full Moon. Considering the amount of reflected light from the landscape of Holy Island, those estimates seem reasonable.

The green color of the fireball is perfectly normal. Many of the brightest fireballs glow with a green light caused by intense heating of magnesium and nickle in the disintegrating space rock. If you saw the fireball, please submit your observations to the AMS.