METEOR’S BIG FLASH

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3493, 1 November 1926, Page 15

METEOR’S BIG FLASH

EXCITEMENT IN ENGLAND.

PANIC STRICKEN PEOPLE.

■ROCKET WITH PURPLE FLAME."

A brilliant flash in the sky caused great excitement in England recently. It was seen in Cumberland, Yorkshire all over the ‘ Midlands, and by many people in London, about 9.45 in the evening,' and was, according to Rr, V\ M. H. Greaves, chief assistant at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, almost certainly a meteor. Mr. -, Greaves was observing at the time and saw the flash, which differed only slightly from the regular blue flashes of tho electric railways. The chief difference was the length of the afterglow. He said: “Probably it was a large meteor which passed over Northern England, and it certainly came closer than usual. The noise said to have accompanied it might be due to the explosion of the meteor, which by its own speed often tears itself to pieces. Tijc differing reports of the colours —which varied from red and orange to green and blue —-would be duo to the varying distances of the observers from the track of the meteor,'which would be in colour like a blast furnace to near observers. So' far wc have had no reports about it, but the theory that it might be the aurora might be dismissed;' as our records show no sign of this.”

The most important meteors from this world’s point of view are those that move more slowly and descend near to the earth. These travel at a speed estimated' as varying from SO to 40 miles per second. They consist of a mass of mineral matter, weighing at the most a few thousand pounds, surrounded by a whirling gas, and the glare which is seen is created by the friction of the air, which generates heat in the mineral matter. The meteors always explode before they reach the earth, because they cannot penetrate the bolt of baser air which surrounds the world. They then crumple into small pieces, which spread over an area up to 50 square miles. Such a meteor as was lately scon was probably one of the slower meteors overtaking the earth, and so visible for a longer period than usual. Mr 1 Frank Patrick,’ signalman on the ‘North Eastern Railway at Barlby, Yorkshire, saw what he described ’as a rocket coming from tho sky with a purple flame, leaving a streak of fire behind it This was at 9.52 p.m. It suddenly burst into a bright flame, lighting up the countryside. Two minutes'later, a muffled explosion followed, while the cabin shook like a reed. Mr. II Jackson, his mate, stated that the light which lasted about 20 seconds, made night almost day and the river bridge a mile away ebuid be seen very Plainly. The cabin rocked, and then the 1 clock stopped at 9.54, while electri-

cal instruments “acted like mad.” Houses in the town are said to have stret. The road loading to an oil mill street. ' The road leading to a oil mill was packed with workmen’s wives and daughters, who ran to the mill making enquiries about their husbands and relatives’ safety. At a whist drive cards were shaken alfout on the table, while at Westfield, Selby, pictures were swung on the wall. At Bubwith, East Riding, the pictures were shaken off the walls_ Firemen at Selby went to the flrcstation, mistaking the explosion for a maroon which summons the brigade.