Happy Thought for 25 September 2026

Have a Happy Thought:

A couple of nights ago, a fireball lit up the skies above where I live (no, I didn’t see it because I was well asleep by then). (it’s definitely worth clicking on that link above, it was quite an impressive sight, especially with Taranaki Mounga centred in frame)

Fireballs Aotearoa, the local affiliate of the Global Meteor Network, assessed from the reported fireball tracks as well as their camera network, that the meteor that caused this fireball likely landed in the Tasman Sea, so are not looking for any fragments on land.

This is in contrast to a fireball from a few months ago that did land in the central North Island. That one looked like this in the sky:

Image credit – GeoNet

 

And this on the ground:

Dr Marshall Palmer, in green jacket, about to confirm a fragment as a meteorite. Credit Steve Wyn-Harris.

 

When our fireball cameras are not picking up meteor streaks, though, they are picking up on some other wild and wonderful events in the night.

 

For example: clouds coming off the Ruahine ranges North-West of Waipukurau.

Image: Strange Stuff – Fireballs Aotearoa

 

Or this image of star trails, a few meteor streaks, but also sprites (a form of aurora) in the bottom right.

NZ002E, Letts Gully Observatory 2, Alexandra in June 2024.

 

Or this piece of genuine art, made up from several nights’ images merged together and coloured. It contains moth trails, water dripping off the guttering, the odd meteor, and satellites.

Image: Terry

 

Thanks to Fireballs Aotearoa for encouraging our fascination with the night sky