“It looked like a shooting star but after the flash it was still visible for about five seconds,” the person wrote – begging others to confirm the sighting as the rest of their household was questioning their sanity.
Another person was out fishing when they saw an apparent meteor, saying they were “mesmerised” by its glowing trail. it left behind.
Others reported a “flash in the sky then a trail towards Karioitahi Beach”, on Auckland’s southwest coast, a “bright green” light in the sky, and a “beautiful” shooting star darting low in the sky before burning out.
Reports came from Taupō, Wellington and Feilding, while one Masterton resident reported “huge loud booming and then a crackling like firecrackers”, saying they had been “a [teensy] bit scared” by the end.
Newstalk ZB’s Marcus Lush Nights also received a flurry of reports, with one person spotting the meteor while bringing in the cows. Another said they had seen a meteor north of Stratford, saying it “exploded very quickly – all over in about three seconds”.
Commenters on Weatherwatch’s website reported seeing one or more meteorite flashes from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, including one travelling east to west over Auckland and another reporting a “fireball in Waiwera”.
“Saw a large meteorite high in the sky looking west down Khyber Pass in Auckland city,” another wrote. “Amazing to see such a bright shooting star with all the city lights!”
After Tuesday’s meteor sightings, Te Whatu Stardome head of education Kaitlyn Martin told the Herald a fireball is larger than a typical meteor, causing bright flashes where a typical meteor would just streak across the sky.
“What you’re actually seeing is that rock breaking into small pieces.
“It’s a little bit like the difference between burning a log or burning little chips of kindling or wood shavings.”
The rock breaking means more surface area, causing it to burn faster, she said.
“That’s why it very quickly goes from just looking like a normal meteor to having that bright bang, that bright light in the sky that you see in the video.”