PREVIEW

BY MARK WORGAN

An incredibly bright fireball was seen streaking across the skies of Western Europe on Sunday evening, with sightings reported in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

The object was observed at around 18:55 CET (17:55 UTC) on 8 March, travelling from the south-west to the north-east. Witnesses said the fireball glowed for about six seconds as it moved across the sky, leaving a visible trail before breaking apart into several fragments.

The event was captured by numerous dedicated meteor cameras, including those operated by the European AllSky7 fireball network - seen here.

Some observers also reported hearing the phenomenon from the ground, suggesting parts of the object may have survived its passage through the atmosphere.

In Germany, local reports indicate that small meteorite fragments may have struck at least one house in the town of Koblenz-Güls. Authorities say there have been no reports of injuries.

Scientists are now expected to analyse the recordings and eyewitness accounts to determine the object’s trajectory and whether additional meteorite fragments may have fallen elsewhere.