Search for remnants of meteor fireball west of Ipswich

Residents across southeast Queensland witnessed an amazing spectacle which left the sky ablaze and the ground shaking – now the search is on for what rocketed down from space into our backyard.

Budding astronomers have launched a search for remnants of a fireball meteor which rocketed down from space into bush west of Ipswich.

Stargazers have been alerted to the possibility of valuable space debris in a 50km radius around Rosewood after the meteor blaze on August 20 just after 7.45pm.

Australian Meteor Reports administrator and astronomy enthusiast David Finlay said based on sightings and video footage he was confident pieces of the meteor survived the descent.

Mr Finley said initial reports suggested landfall was around Grandchester and Calvert, and reports of a large sonic boom at Rosewood indicated land fall within 50km of the town.

He said the asteroid would have been about the size of a basketball when it entered the Earth’s atmosphere, although 80 to 90 per cent of its mass would have vaporised.

He said fragments were seen breaking off and trailing behind the meteor.

The suspected meteor blaze as seen from east of Lismore, New South Wales. Picture: Michael Bath/Australian Meteor Reports Facebook

If found, the fragments would look like smooth matt-black rocks that range in size of an apple to a grape.

However, if the small meteor hit a hard surface upon its landing, it may have hard edges.

Mr Finley said it was incredibly rare for newly fallen meteors to be found in Australia, and an event like this occurred about three times a year on the east coast.

The informative Australian Meteor Reports Facebook group amassed more than 40,000 members in five years and has since worked with university researchers.

A Haigslea resident told the group he heard a distant boom, but assumed something was happening at the nearby Amberley RAAF base.

A large meteor fireball was seen from parts of NSW and Queensland with some observers hearing a large sonic boom west of Ipswich at Rosewood. Picture: Google Maps

Another nearby local, between Grandchester and Calvert, said she heard an “odd rumbling” outside which was different to the sound of the military aircraft which frequent the area.

However, a handful of residents west of Ipswich reported hearing and seeing nothing at all.

Two hours north of the estimated landfall zone, a Gympie resident said she was putting her chickens away for the night when she was stunned by the sight.

“It was big and seemed fairly low to the ground and the tail had a blue tinge,” she said.

“I half expected to hear or feel an explosion nearby.

“It was an incredible sight.”

The out-of-this-world event was also spotted from New South Wales skies.

The team at Australian Meteor Reports urged residents to share photos or video footage of the event to help pinpoint an exact location of the fall.

To submit your photos, head to the Facebook page HERE.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is illegal to enter someone’s property without permission. If you are out searching for meteorites you must ask landowners for permission first.