Pieces of asteroid may have landed in Highlands, say experts

4 hours ago 6

Steven McKenzie

BBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter

Getty Images Ben NevisGetty Images

Pieces of the meteorite may have landed on Ben Nevis, according to UKMON

The network - which started in 2012 and involves more than 200 amateur astronomers - uses observations, captured footage and computer programs to calculate orbits and trajectories to figure out where meteorites land.

@adriancoll1 A meteor burning across the night sky with a small dark patch of trees in the bottom right hand corner of the frame@adriancoll1

The meteor was spotted on Thursday

The sightings of the small asteroid were made after midnight.

UKMON said potential locations for the meteorites could be around Ben Nevis - the UK's highest mountain.

Toni Hanlon told BBC Scotland News she felt her house in nearby Fort William shake.

She added: "My husband and kids slept through it though."

Ray Whyte Ray with Georgie and Rocky.Ray Whyte

Ray Whyte, pictured with his daughter Georgie and their dog Rocky, was working in Glen Nevis when the asteroid appeared

Ray Whyte was staying in a static caravan with his dog Rocky while working in Glen Nevis near Ben Nevis when he was startled by the meteorite.

He said: "I couldn't sleep after a hard day so got up for a coffee.

"Me and the dog jumped out our skin with the bang.

"I missed the light as the curtains were drawn, but the whole static shook like it had been used as a drum or a vehicle had hit the side.

"Left us both pretty scared and confused."

'Going dark'

UKMON said the asteroid was travelling at about 12,427mph (20,000kmh) when it entered Earth's atmosphere.

It was seen burning as brightly as a full moon before "going dark".

Wind and other weather data, as well as any information gathered by the UK Fireball Alliance, is used to help work out where meteorites land.

UKMON has appealed to hillwalkers to keep a lookout for pieces of meteorite and has advice on its website on how to identify the space rock.

But the organisation said finding meteorites would be difficult in a vast area of mountains and glens.

The Winchcombe meteorite was the first to be found on UK soil for 30 years.

Experts said the rock travelled for millions of years before reaching Earth.

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