Fire in the SkyS

Question

Flashback Officials: Blasts heard near Pakistani capital may have been from sonic boom

Investigators found no physical evidence of loud explosions heard Monday near the Pakistani capital and officials said it may have been a sonic boom caused by fast-moving aircraft.

The blasts were heard in Rawalpindi and the capital, Islamabad, two cities about 7 miles (12 kilometers) apart. Rawalpindi houses the headquarters of
Pakistan's army and the residence of President Pervez Musharraf, a key U.S. ally in the war on terror.

Meteor

New Zealand: West Coast meteor may have landed

The mystery of lights spotted off the west coast of New Zealand overnight has taken a twist with Punakaiki residents reporting a large bang and jolt.

Christchurch police received reports from Hokitika to Nelson of a light in the sky between 11pm and midnight, and Wanganui police received three calls of a bright light out at sea.

Wanganui police initially thought it was a flare but then reports came in from farther afield.

There were no reports of anything hitting the ground and a meteor is suspected.

Meteor

Meteor sparks fears of UFO, Iranian missiles in Israel

A relatively large and unexpected meteor streaked across the sky over central Israel Tuesday evening, sparking widespread fears that the nation was under attack by Iran, Syria, or perhaps aliens.

The large bright ball and flaming tail were visible around 8 PM and were seen by thousands of Israelis from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. As soon as the meteor had disappeared, burned up in earth's atmosphere, calls to the police began pouring in.

Meteor

Witness account: Large meteorite seen over Cyprus



Image
©Daniel Shabodia
The meteorite, as seen above Machmoret, Israel

Between 8:25 - 8:30 pm tonight, in the town of Larnaca (Southern coast of Cyprus) I was walking by the beach when I saw in the sky something like a ball of fire moving slower than a usual falling star, followed by a bright pink/red tail. Other people on the beach saw it as well and kept talking and wondering about it.

Comment: It appears that this is the same meteorite that was seen crossing Israeli sky at 08:15 pm.


Meteor

Large meteor crosses Israeli skies



Image
©Daniel Shabodia
The meteorite, as seen above Machmoret, Israel

A large meteor crossed Israel's skies on Tuesday evening, and was seen by many residents, mainly in Samaria, Army Radio reported.

According to citizens' reports, the object was seen at approximately 8:15 p.m., as it crossed the sky from east to west horizontally. Some witnesses said they saw two shiny objects in the sky, and others reported that they heard a shrieking sound.

Arrow Down

Canada: Fireball in sky not a plane, Halifax police say

Police investigating a report of a small plane crashing in Halifax say the glowing object was likely a flare.


Comment: Or a meteorite.


A group of children reported that a fireball nosedived to the ground in a wooded area off Herring Cove Road Wednesday evening.

Firefighters, police and search-and-rescue teams sprang into action. As a helicopter searched from above, police rode dirt bikes through the woods.

Meteor

California, US: Mystery fireball streaks across sky

Witnesses across Southern California say they saw an object 'moving very fast across the northern sky' and falling near the San Bernardino Mountains. Officials have no firm answers on what it was.

Mystery Fireball
©LA Times

From Hollywood Hills to the Nevada state line, people reported seeing a fireball streaking across the sky and falling near the San Bernardino Mountains this morning. But explanations of the mysterious object were scarce.

Meteor

Australia: Fireball at Ayers Rock

A weekend trip for astrophotography in central Australia can result in gorgeous skyscapes. In this example recorded in March of 2006, the center of our Milky Way Galaxy rises over planet Earth's horizon and the large sandstone formation called Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock.

Image
©Joseph Brimacombe
Fireball at Ayers Rock

Meteor

Australia: Plane, meteor or just a UFO?

It looked like a small plane that was on fire and about to ditch in the ocean, Port Macquarie's Luke Williams said.

To the policeman he spoke to it looked like a meteor or a piece of space junk that disappeared into the ocean.

Question

Flashback Bangladesh: Mysterious booms rock city

Panic gripped city dwellers in the early hours yesterday when sounds of several explosions rocked parts of the capital city.

Neither police nor the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) could say anything with certainty about the explosions or from where the sound of explosions originated.

Some city dwellers heard six to seven loud explosion sounds in southern parts of Dhaka at around 12:40am yesterday.