‘Fireball’ asteroid explodes over the English Channel as it came hurtling to earth

In the early hours of Monday a “fireball” asteroid exploded over the English Channel as it came hurtling towards earth.

The explosion was seen in southern England, Wales and northern France and this rare event was captures on film by those stayed up to watch it after it was forecast to happen.

🇫🇷 France, Le havre.
Passage de #Sar2667 au dessus du Havre, prise de vue proche du Stade océane du HAC.
(📸@tymlaly76700) pic.twitter.com/dXN6mDmfLr

— iustitia (@iustiti35530172) February 13, 2023

American physicist and airburst specialist Mark Boslough said this is just the seventh time in history this had been discovered in advance.

He told Wales Online, “Airbursts of this size happen somewhere several times per year… [but they are] rarely discovered in advance.”

🚨ATTENTION! A small asteroid is expected to safely impact the French-English channel in ~4 hours time, 03:00:03 UT tomorrow. Object size is around ~1 meter and should appear as bright as the Moon momentarily as it enters the atmosphere. Approx visibility circle posted below. 1/ pic.twitter.com/Ckh5OBsz4l

— Tom Williams (@tw__astro) February 12, 2023

Amateur astrophotographer Tom Williams tweeted, “Object size is around 1 metre and should appear as bright as the Moon momentarily as it enters the atmosphere.”

The European Space Agency tweeted this is “a sign of the rapid advancements in global asteroid detection capabilities!”