Homeowner Discovers Warm ‘Meteorite’ Possibly from Halley’s Comet
A homeowner in West Yorkshire made a fascinating discovery when he found a still-warm ‘meteorite’ near his home, sparking speculation that it could be debris from Halley’s Comet.
Dan Charlton was in his back garden in the early hours when he witnessed a green light streaking across the sky followed by a distinct ‘whoosh’ sound as the object made its descent to earth. The next day, he stumbled upon a small charred rock in a street close to his home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which he described as ‘warm and smelt burnt’.
Dan shared his experience, stating, ‘I went outside and looked up and saw this light and thought, “Is that a firework?” It was really close. It came down in a straight line and what was interesting was it had a green flame, like a hue, that burnt and then disappeared. You could hear it make a brief “whoosh” sound, and then I was expecting a big bang but it was just silent. There was no one else around, and I thought, “That’s definitely a meteorite”.’
After consulting with a geologist who suggested the object appeared to be a meteorite, Dan took the rock to the University of Leeds for further analysis. Professor Simon Kelley from the School of Earth and Environment inspected the object under a microscope but was unable to conclusively identify its origin. He noted that while the rock lacked a fusion crust typically found on meteorites, it displayed holes and medium-sized crystals, indicating a possible volcanic origin.
Professor Kelley outlined plans for additional testing, which involved slicing the rock to examine its internal structures and minerals. This process would provide more insight into the composition of the rock and help determine its classification.
As the investigation continues, Dan remains intrigued by the mysterious rock that fell into his vicinity, eagerly awaiting the results of the scientific analysis to uncover the secrets hidden within this potential extraterrestrial visitor.
