A stargazer said he was ‘very lucky’ after spotting the rare celestial event from his Wrexham home
Ed Williams saw the burning meteor passing through the atmosphere from his home in Wrexham(Image: Ed Williams)
An amateur stargazer was left stunned after catching sight of a fireball streaking across the dawn sky outside his North Wales home. Ed Williams, 52, observed the blazing meteor piercing through Earth’s atmosphere whilst gazing out of his landing window in Wrexham yesterday morning (Sunday, January 4).
Initially, the property maintenance worker confused the luminous trail for an aeroplane, before recognising he was observing something considerably more remarkable.
“I’m a bit of a stargazer and knew that it was going to be a busy sky at the weekend,” he told What’s The Jam.
“Because of the Wolf Moon and the Quadrantid meteor shower.”
Despite dedicating time to observing the heavens on Saturday evening, Ed had witnessed nothing unusual.
Ed admitted that the sighting was completely unexpected(Image: Ed Williams)
“The moon was stunning on Saturday night too. I stood out for ages trying to see a meteor but never did,” he said.
In an unexpected turn, the genuine spectacle arrived the next morning.
“When I got up for my morning coffee on Sunday and looked out of my landing window, I noticed a bright streak in the sky,” reports Wales Online.
“Not a usual plane streak – it looked like it was on fire.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
The seasoned observer swiftly recognised the occurrence. “I thought straight away this is a fireball meteor – not a shooting star. It was definitely entering the Earth’s atmosphere, flaming, and it was definitely burning up as it got lower.”
Ed recalled the sighting happened at approximately 8.15am and characterised the experience as truly memorable.
“I was blessed to see it. I’ve seen lots of shooting stars and satellites but not one of these. It was a privilege.
The burning meteor are significantly rarer than ordinary shooting stars(Image: Ed Williams)
“I wasn’t fortunate enough to see anything on Saturday night. Then I saw a fireball right outside my landing window. I was very lucky.”
Fireballs are considerably more uncommon than typical shooting stars. They are exceptionally bright meteors caused by larger pieces of space rock entering Earth’s atmosphere at high speed.
During their incineration, they produce dazzling trails of light and may occasionally generate explosions or shock waves. On uncommon occasions, remnants withstand the plunge and reach the surface as meteorites.
For stargazing enthusiasts, the astronomical spectacles are nowhere near finished as the opening of the year promises additional night sky attractions.
According to Royal Museums Greenwich, between January 1 and 12, the Quadrantid meteor shower will deliver a celestial display
For optimal viewing opportunities, watchers should seek out a shadowy spot, wrap up warmly, and direct their gaze towards the Boötes constellation.
Just days later, on January 10, Jupiter reaches opposition, meaning it will shine at its brightest and remain visible throughout the night. The gas giant can be easily seen even in light-polluted areas, making it an ideal target for binoculars or telescopes. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone