Search underway for meteorite fragments after bright fireball over Western Australia
Search efforts are underway in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region following a bright green-white fireball that streaked across the sky at 05:57 local time (AWST) on May 11, 2025.
Bright fireball over Western Australia on May 12, 2025. Credit: Waldemar Eliaschewsky
A meteoroid entered Earth’s atmosphere at 21:57 UTC on May 10, 2025 (05:57 local time (LT) on May 11), producing a bright green-orange fireball visible across southwest and central Western Australia.
Dashcam footage from Coolgardie captured the fireball’s low trajectory, and Perth Observatory security cameras recorded the flash. Additional recordings from a Community Media truck and amateur smartphones showed the meteor’s southward path from the Central Wheatbelt. Some observers reported a brief “boom” or vibrations consistent with an airburst shockwave.
Perth Observatory estimated the meteoroid’s size to be approximately 5–12 cm (2–5 inches) in diameter. It was likely an iron meteor, with its green-orange coloration resulting from frictional heating at speeds of 57 600–216 000 km/h (35 790–134 220 mph).
According to Perth Observatory, the meteor’s path started over the Central Wheatbelt and moved from north to south. Curtin University’s Desert Fireball Network is reviewing all-sky camera footage to triangulate its trajectory and assess whether any fragments reached the ground.
Chris Holgate, driving near Gingin, said the fireball was unlike anything he had previously observed. Caroline Burton in Scarborough described the sighting as significant, while Tracey Johnstone in Mount Magnet initially thought the object was the moon until it moved across the sky.
Experts noted that although the fireball occurred near the peak of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower, its size indicates it was unrelated. Perth Observatory confirmed that it was not associated with the Kosmos 482 satellite re-entry over the Indian Ocean on May 11. Curtin astrophysicist Steven Tingay also ruled out space debris.
The Desert Fireball Network (DFN), operated by Curtin University, has initiated search efforts in the expected fall zone within the Wheatbelt region.
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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