Home / Whanganui ChronicleSky 'explosion' likely a meteorAnna WallisWhanganui Chronicle·18 Aug, 2014 06:43 PMQuick ReadSubscribe to listenAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Sign in hereListening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.SaveShareShare this articleCopy LinkEmailFacebookTwitter/XLinkedInRedditA lightning-like flash in the sky and then a loud bang experienced in Wanganui yesterday morning was likely a bolide.Arthur Harris of St John's Hill said it was 6.20am when he saw the flash. "An orange light was in the sky, and then the bomb went off. It was like an explosion." A similar light was also seen in Christchurch and Dunedin according to reports on weatherwatch.co.nz.Mark Lee of the Wanganui Astronomical Society said the light was a bolide, the name for a large, brilliant meteor, especially one that explodes.AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.Mr Lee said they were more common than people thought and could be a meteor, or space junk that had become too hot. "It doesn't explode, it is just disintegrating."He said material only has to be the size of a refrigerator to be seen and heard.SaveShareShare this articleCopy LinkEmailFacebookTwitter/XLinkedInRedditLatest from Whanganui ChronicleWhanganui ChronicleRaising of jury opt-out age hailed as 'a practical step forward'24 Feb 05:17 PMWhanganui ChronicleStalled trail project 'urgently requiring some action'24 Feb 05:00 PMWhanganui ChronicleHow a Whanganui artist put Māui and Prometheus in the same frame24 Feb 04:00 PMSponsoredBacking locals, every day22 Feb 11:00 AMAdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
