Meteor becomes "bright blue shot" in Nordic night sky

William Atkins
Saturday, 24 January 2009 18:20

Science - Space

The Danish astronomy website stated that drivers "could not help noticing it, despite being blinded by the opposite traffic." [SpaceWeather.com]

In Göteborg, Sweden, Toby Rutland commented, “I'm about 50km north of Gothenburg and saw the bright blue flash through the living room window. It was almost definitely to the south and was at least as bright as close lightning but I didn't notice any sound. Wish I'd seen more!" [SpaceWeather.com]

Asger Ellekrog, from southern Denmark, stated, “Living in the southern part of Denmark, my wife and I - as well as many many other danes/scandinavians, were witnesses to the fireball. Though we saw it indirectly, as we were painting the first floor of our house, a little past 8pm local time."

Ellekrog added, “Suddenly a bright bluish light was flashing through the windows - bright as daylight. It lasted only three-four seconds. What the hell was that?? my wife asked, my first thought was a lightning-flash, but since we heard no thunder within the first 10-20 seconds, it couldn't be lightning.”

And, “The extreme brightness of the flashes, made us conclude, that it could possibly have been a meteor. Then one-two minutes after the flashes, we heard a deep distant rumble, not very loud, but it lasted five to eight seconds. Likely connected to the flashes."

The SpaceWeather website (mentioned earlier) has numerous videos, images, and comments of the incident, along with a Google map of its estimated route across the Nordic region.

SpaceWeather.com provides “news and information about Sun-Earth environment.” Dr. Tony Phillips provides the website.