On August 7, 2023, residents of Melbourne, Australia, were awestruck by a mysterious light display in the sky. Some people claimed to have felt the ground shake shortly after midnight, leading to speculation about whether it was an earthquake, a comet, or even aliens. However, it has since been identified as the remains of a Russian rocket that had re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up.
The Mysterious Display
The event was recorded across the state, from Melbourne CBD to Mount Buller, about 200km from the city. Some people took to social media to share their experiences, with one person claiming to have felt an aftershock and another asking if the world was ending. Others claimed to have seen a “possible” meteor in the sky. Eyewitness reports on the radio described a loud explosion in the sky over Melbourne just after midnight, leading to speculation about whether it was a meteor or space junk.
What Are Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, and Meteorites?
Asteroids are large chunks of rock from collisions or the early solar system. Most are located between Mars and Jupiter in the Main Belt. Comets, on the other hand, are rocks covered in ice, methane, and other compounds. Their orbits take them much further out of the solar system. A meteor is what astronomers call a flash of light in the atmosphere when debris burns up. This debris itself is known as a meteoroid. Most are so small they are vaporized in the atmosphere. If any of these meteoroids make it to Earth, it is called a meteorite. Meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites commonly originate from asteroids and comets. For example, if Earth passes through the tail of a comet, much of the debris burns up in the atmosphere, forming a meteor shower.
Conclusion
The mysterious light display in Melbourne’s ky on August 7, 2023, was identified as the remains of a Russian rocket that had re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up. While some people speculated that it was an earthquake, a comet, or even aliens, it turned out to be a natural phenomenon caused by space debris. Asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites are all part of our solar system and can create spectacular displays in the sky.