Comet, earthquake or ‘aliens’: Mysterious cosmic display lights up Melbourne

Awe-struck social media users have speculated about a mysterious light display in the skies over an Australian city.

Melbourne residents took to social media on Monday to share photos and videos of the image that soared over the city.

Space junk that blazed across the night sky causing the ground to shake has startled locals of an Australian city who feared it was an earthquake.

Melbourne residents took to social media on Monday to share photos and videos of the mysterious image that soared over the city shortly after midnight.

The night-time display drew mixed reactions, with many in awe of the hurtling cosmic junk, while others speculated what it was.

Space junk that flew over Melbourne on Monday night. Picture: Reddit

Residents took to social media to speculate about its origin. Picture: Twitter

“What an amazing sight over Richmond,” Stewart Mason wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I don’t know if it was a meteor, comet or space junk.”

Tyson Whelan said: “Some spectacular vision of what appears to be a meteor sailing over Melbourne this evening.

“Or, a Matildas fan has let off perhaps the largest flare ever produced.”

It was initially believed by some to be an earthquake. Picture: Twitter

Ricky Lancaster said: “Just landed back in the UK and the first thing I see is a meteor shower over Melbourne.”

In an expletive-laden video, one resident expressed his shock and awe at the sight.

“What the f**k is that? Is that a meteor shower?” the man says.

What the hell did I just see?#Melbourne#meteor#shootingstar#comet#alienspic.twitter.com/7Poc89rrvP

— RizN (@RizN91) August 7, 2023

Space junk lights up the skies over Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/Oaok47VVbh

— mark davidson (@markjdavidson) August 7, 2023

“Look at that. That’s not good, is it? That sh*t falling out of the sky.”

While some speculated the display could be “aliens” or a UFO, others initially believed the loud sounds heard were another earthquake.

Something strange streaked across Melbourne sky. pic.twitter.com/eRbNpMRhOJ

— 𝕏 (@AlertChannel) August 7, 2023

Incredible sight in sky over the SE Melbourne tonight #meteor#sonicboom#SpaceX Falcon 9 debris? pic.twitter.com/qz3Sb5f6T2

— Eric G (@ericguerrero_au) August 7, 2023

Melbourne has been battered by successive earthquakes in recent years, including a 4.6-magnitude earthquake in June.

One user wrote on Reddit: “ OK, please tell me someone felt that. Felt like a bomb went off (big thud) and mid shake.”

Geoscience Australia confirmed reports to The New Daily of seismic activity from Melbourne about midnight on Monday.

“We identified seismic signals near northwest Melbourne but with insufficient data for publication to the EQ@GA website,” GA said.

A meteor shower over Melbourne! CRAZY!! pic.twitter.com/Q9LNAfhwFV

— MAX-Bear (@Max_BullBear) August 7, 2023

So this just happened #melbournepic.twitter.com/wCXROcopaf

— Brad (@Brad89889847) August 7, 2023

It was not immediately clear whether the display was from a meteor or a comet.

A meteor is what astronomers describe as a flash of light in the atmosphere when debris burns up.

The debris itself is known as a meteoroid, with most so small they are vaporised in the atmosphere.

If it does make it to Earth it becomes a meteorite, while a comet is a rock covered in ice, methane and other compounds.