A green-tinged meteor that flashed across the evening sky in Cornwall came from the trail of a comet that last passed earth in 1861, say scientists. Witnesses reported seeing a "fireball" shooting over the region in a northerly direction at about 9.45pm on Wednesday. Experts initially thought the meteor might have formed from debris from Halley's Comet, which is visible from earth every 75 to 76 years. But Mike Willmott, a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society based at Caradon Observatory, near Liskeard, attributed it to the lesser-known Comet Thatcher, last seen more than 150 years ago. Read more
There is confusion among experts about its origin. Many experts are of the view that the bright green meteor might have come from Halley's Comet and others are of the idea that it has might have been drifted into the Earth's atmosphere from the asteroid belt. Read more
Artist Glynis Dray captured the moment when a celestial visitor lit up the skies over Worcestershire on Wednesday evening. The fireball shot over England and Wales at about 9.45pm, and people took to social media sites to report the phenomenon, with sightings also recorded in Cornwall, Hampshire, Lancashire and South Wales. Experts believe the meteor might have formed from debris from Halleys Comet. Ms Dray, who lives in Lime Tree Avenue, Malvern Wells, was out near the centre of Malvern when she saw it crossing the sky directly overhead heading in a north-west direction. Read more
An object believed to be a meteor fireball whizzed over Bath last night. The phenomenon was witnessed across England and Wales, and variously described as blue, white and green. Read more
Large meteor spotted in night sky in England and Wales
A meteor has been spotted travelling across the night sky by people in many parts of England and Wales. Sightings of the celestial body were reported on Twitter in areas such as Cornwall, Hampshire, Lancashire, south Wales and Worcestershire. Read more