Meteor Fireballs Streak Across England & Scotland Skies 2010, Why is News Media Silent on the Coma Berenicid Meteor Shower?

Graham Riley said, "We were out in Brigsteer, Cumbria, UK to watch fireworks at midnight New Years Eve [2010]. Brigsteer has no street lighting myself and my wife witnessed a huge bright yellow square with four triangular yellow flashes emitting from the main body... it traveled slowly with no sound from NE to SW and burnt out over the Sea- fantastic sight!" _{^{Posted on 01/01/2010 at 2:01:10 PM.}}

Martin Howie said, "My brother-in-law went out to walk the dogs just after the New Year Bells, and came running back in to call me out to see if I could rationally explain what he'd seen over Rosyth, in Fife, Scotland. Suffice to say, I was at a loss for words, seeing 20-25 orange balls streaking across the sky. The whole family came outside, and a few neighbours came to see what the commotion was. My wife saw one meteor break up into 3 parts and fizzle out. I don't think any of us will be forgetting this New Year anytime soon. Curious as to the lack of TV coverage or Internet postings thus far also." ^{_{Posted on 01/01/2010 at 3:01:08 PM}}

David Pulman, a pilot who has given earlier eyewitness accounts of this spectacular celestial event, said, "My wife has been in a bit of a panic ever since as she fears there is some sort of official news black out! They were very easily visible- no need for telescope or binoculars. They must have been pretty big too in order that we could see them so clearly- and obviously fire balls- to the point of being able to see them (mostly) burn up in the atmosphere.

I saw two fireballs quite close together, which looked quite low in the sky and as they streaked passed appeared to visibly fall before breaking up- though still fireballs but visibly shrinking before disappearing out of sight. With such a clear night sky and full moon, they were very different from anything else in the sky. I am a pilot so can assure you they were certainly not aircraft and way way faster than any aircraft could travel. Fireworks were going off at the time but the fireballs (meteors) were well above any of them and coming from the sky- not the ground! I just wish I'd had the presence of mind to g-." ^{_{Posted 01/02/2010 at 8:01:56 AM}}

The remainder of Mr. Pulman's eyewitness account is lost but one could easily assume that Mr. Pulman wished he had had a camera or videocam to film what he was seeing. However, a remarkable sight such as the Coma Berenicid meteors making such a dazzling show would be difficult to leave, even momentarily, especially since there would be no way of knowing how suddenly it might end.

Here are some links to awesome meteor and meteorite videos- meteorites are meteors that have survived Earth's atmosphere and have actually impacted with Earth.

Meteor[ite] slamming into Earth in Washington State. (18 seconds).
Meteor[ite] [slamming to Earth] in Biggar, Saskatchewan (15 seconds).
Meteor over Alberta, Canada The Great Daylight 1972 Fireball (59 seconds).
Police Dash Cam of Meteor over Edmonton, Canada (32 seconds).

For previous eyewitness accounts, click here.
For an earlier article on this year's Coma Berenicids, CLICK HERE.