Australian Meteor Reports reveals location of meteorite fragments which lit up Australian skies for hundreds of kilometres

An astronomy expert has revealed the likely location of an asteroid which broke through Earth’s atmosphere and lit up skies for hundreds of kilometres. See its final resting place here.

An astronomical phenomenon which lit through skies from Bundaberg to Sydney is believed to be a stray meteor unrelated to the Lyrid shower.

Residents in the Queensland’s southwest couldn’t believe their eyes when the sky lit up on Monday night, as a meteorite fell towards Earth.

Many in the Stanthorpe region took to social media to share their experience of the once in a lifetime event, with some believing fragments of the meteorite landed in the area.

Applethorpe resident Declan Healy witnessed a once in a lifetime event, as a singular asteroid fell through the earth's atmosphere. Photo: Declan Healy

Australian Meteor Reports administrator and astronomy enthusiast David Finlay said despite these reports, his investigation has led him to believe the meteorite likely fell somewhere between Ashford and Emmaville in NSW.

“People can get very excited about these things in the hope they might find something special,” Mr Finlay said.

Mr Finlay said while he doesn’t discount any reports, it’s likely someone much further southwest of Stanthorpe has meteorites in their backyard.

Creator of the Australian Meteor Reports group David Finlay has debunk theories a meteor captured travelling across skies from Bundaberg to Lismore was not part of the Lyrid meteor shower. Picture: Supplied

“In the 12 years I've been running the group I’ve had many hundreds of rocks submitted and only two of them have been meteorites,” he said.

Mr Finlay believes this particular meteor was unrelated to the Lyrid meteor shower and is a small asteroid which entered Earth’s atmosphere on Monday night.

For those who have used the magnet method in order to determine whether they’ve found a meteorite in their backyard are sorely mistaken, according to Mr Finlay.

The lonesome asteroid lit up skies from Bundaberg as far down as Lismore in NSW. Photo: Declan Healy

“Half the normal terrestrial rocks in Australia will stick to a magnet, it (would be) like trying to find one specific strand of hay in a haystack,” he said.

It’s understood only 10 per cent of the mass of asteroids of this kind survive to the ground as meteorites, which would have dozens of fragmented pieces.

Australian Meteor Reports group believe this is the most likely area where fragments of Monday's meteorite could be found.

However, those who felt a ‘sonic boom’ weren’t mistaken with Mr Finlay recorded reports of shockwaves far more widespread than previous events.

“This was an asteroid that could have been anything from the size of a basketball to a wheelbarrow, if we can get some more seismic and infrasound data on the event we may be able to get much closer to determining its size,” he said.

Originally published as Australian Meteor Reports reveals location of meteorite fragments which lit up Australian skies for hundreds of kilometres