Hundreds in NI and Scotland spot mysterious ‘fireball’ over night sky

It illuminated the sky at around 9pm

Credit: Joe McNeill
Author: Chloe StjohnPublished 15th Sep 2022
Last updated 15th Sep 2022

There have been more than 200 reported sightings of a mysterious “fireball” over the skies of Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The UK Meteor Network said reports started flooding in after 9pm last night, and that a couple of their cameras caught it.

Videos captured by some of those who saw the unusual spectacle, show what appears to be a bright green globe of light, soaring through the night sky

Most sightings were from Northern Ireland and Scotland

Dunmurry man Joe McNeill captured a video of the 'fireball' in West Belfast.

He told Forth 1: "I went out to lock the car and just bring a few bits and pieces in and I looked up to the sky and saw what I thought was a firework at first"

"I just noticed it as it came directly overhead. The colour was changing to like a greeny blue colour. I quickly realised what it was and took the phone out to record it"

"It was unbelievable. I couldn't believable my eyes." "Whenever i realised what it was I was witnessing my first reaction was right; lets record this and show it to everybody else because nobody will believe how bright and clear this was"

Describing the colours illuminating the sky , he said, "It started out like an orange colour - that's why i thought it was a firework at first."

"Then it just gradually changed into like a greeny, blue, turquoise colour and I then realised, that's definitely not a firework"

Scotland sightings

Danny Nell, 21, was walking his dog in Johnstone, just west of Paisley and Glasgow, when he saw the fireball.

“I was walking my dog and it was strangely enough 10pm on the dot, and I just saw the flash in the sky and pulled out my phone and recorded it,” the Glasgow resident told the PA news agency.

“I thought it may be a firework at first because there was a lot of Scottish football on but quickly realised it wasn’t and just grabbed my phone to see if I could catch it.”

In the latest update the UK Meteor Network said, “Having studied many videos of last night’s fireball…we are of the opinion this was space debris”

Hear all the latest news from across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk on Forth 1. Listen on FM, via the Rayo app, on DAB or on your smart speaker.