Space incident

Incredulous stargazers were stunned to witness a meteor streaking across Melbourne’s skies last night.
A spectacular fireball was captured flashing over the Victorian capital, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment that caught the eye of residents just before 10pm.
The meteor – also known as a fireball or bolide – was filmed on dashcam footage as one driver passed through Keilor Downs in Melbourne’s north-west about 9.50pm.
Another lucky resident spotted the meteor as it cast a celestial green glow across the sky in Melbourne’s east.
Dozens of other Victorians reported seeing the meteor as they drove through Melbourne yesterday evening.
Swinburne University of Technology astrophysicist Dr Kirsten Banks told nine.com.au the burst of light was “definitely a meteor” due to its intense brightness and speed.
“The green particularly in the photo tells me that it’s a bright meteor known as a fireball,” Banks said.
“They often leave a bright-green glow behind them caused by the oxygen atoms in the air interacting with the fireball as it plunges through the atmosphere.”
Banks said the fireball ended in a burst of green light as it was vaporised by the earth’s atmosphere.
Witnesses were able to enjoy the astral display because of its size. But it was not large enough to survive the earth’s atmosphere and hit the ground.
“While they are common, catching one with your own eyes comes down to a bit of luck,” Banks added.
“We just miss most of them because the majority of earth’s surface isn’t inhabited by humans.
“Some meteors are quick short flashes of light, like in a meteor shower, but bigger ones like this are a bit more sluggish as they enter the atmosphere.”