Meteor or Space Junk? Astronomer Identifies Object Spotted in the Cosmic Phenomenon Across Scotland and Northern Ireland Skies

The United Kingdom Meteor Network recently confirmed that more than 200 people witnessed the "astronomical sighting" across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday at around 9 p.m.

As specified in a report from The Scotsman, videos capturing the cosmic phenomenon were recorded simultaneously from several different sites, exhibiting how huge and bright the fireball was.

Following submissions of hundreds of videos, and a network of over 150 detection cameras dedicated to recording meteors and other celestial phenomena over the sky of Britain, the UK Meteor Network has not verified what that particular object was.

The network said they are currently investigating to confirm what the object was, if it was a meteor or space debris.

Meteor vs. Space Debris

NASA reported that meteoroids that turn into "meteors" when they enter the atmosphere of Earth are space objects ranging in size from tiny asteroids to petit grains that can be thought of as "space rocks."

A shooting star is an example of a meteor that can be visibly seen entering the Earth's atmosphere.

Special debris, on the other hand, refers to nun-functional and artificial objects or fragments floating in orbit or reentering the atmosphere of Earth.

The European Space Agency also calls space debris "space junk." The between meteors and space junk can burn the same colors and strengths as meteors frequently contain many elements or alloys in artificial objects.

Therefore, a quick glance cannot verify "what's what," this report said. The velocity of an object, though can tell many things.

Space Junk

Most of the space junk reentering the atmosphere of Earth is traveling at approximately 25 to 30 thousand kilometers an hour, while meteors are traveling much faster at around 70 to 80 thousand kilometers per hour.

Astronomer and Glasgow Science Center science communicator Steve Owens witnessed the fireball as it blazed over the Scotland sky middle of this week.

While he spoke on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland program, Owens said it was possible "it may have landed in Scotland," although it is quite unlikely.

He added that the UK Meteor Network, which has had hundreds of reports from across Scotland, will be able to triangulate all such reports to work out their path.

The Danger of Meteors

The astronomer also said, "It looked to me like it was heading," it was heading towards the wet and, given that people in Northern Ireland were reporting they saw it, it could have passed through the land and ended up in the Atlantic. However, it's absolutely not possible that it landed and discovering it will be challenging.

Even though meteors often make their way into the atmosphere, they unusually cause any danger or issue for people.

NASA said it is only every 2,000 years or so, that a major meteoroid, similar to the size of a football pitch, strikes the Earth and causes "significant damage to the surrounding area.

A report about the meteor spotted in Scotland is shown on Daily Record's YouTube video below:

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