HUGE METEOR

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1930, Page 8

HUGE METEOR

SEEN IN AUSTRALIA. PLUNGE INTO SEA. Reports from tlifi ; North Coast of New South Wales ilidieate that a meteor which was seen, early in the morning of July 21 was <sl huge dimensions, being visible for more tli'an 50 milgs. After exploding in the air and causing a concussion which shook houses over a large area', it is l thought' to have fallen into the sea off Point Danger, some distance south of Cook Island. The phenomenon was seen by observers’at’ Gorakip; -LisniDre, Byron Bay, Murwillumbah, arid Tweed Heads. According to the correspondent of the “Sydney 5 Morning Herald” at Tweed its approach was heralded by a heavy rumbling sound- from the northeast. When it jtllig’.couiitfy was illuminated with ' its, brilliant light, and as it travelled rapidly to the southward it left behind a fiery trail. When almost out of sight it was seen to burst into thousands of pieces, the sound of the explosion being heard for miles. Windows and crockery rattled with the concussion. The meteor finally disappeared into the sea. A dull thud was heard at the moment of contact with the water.

Those who saw the phenomenon d fer considerably in their opinions the time which elapsed between its a perance and disappearance. It w calculated by some to be more than minute. The Government Astronom (Mr Janies Nangle) said that this w highly improbable! It was a we!l-< tablished fact that meteors only b came visible at a height of appro? mately 75 miles, and travelled .on t. average.‘at a speed of 27 miles,a s€ ond. If the meteor reached the cart therefore, the time taken would be, most, about three seconds. Most met ors were annihilated at a height of ; miles, and were visible for less than second. That seen on the North Coas from all reports, was of huge dime sions.

Mr Nangle added that he was desirous of receiving reliable data concerning the occurrence. If he could obtain from observers some miles apart some definite idea of the time during which the meteor was seen its direction, and the stars then appearing in tho background, some interesting conclusions might be drawn.