Numerous eyewitnesses reported a large luminous object in Luxembourg’s sky shortly before 7pm on Sunday. The object appeared to move slowly before breaking apart.
Some people also reported hearing sounds similar to explosions.
Nicki Feierstein, former president of the Luxembourg Amateur Astronomers, explained that the phenomenon observed over Luxembourg on Sunday evening resembled a very large shooting star, similar to the Perseids meteor shower seen frequently in August, but likely caused by a much denser cloud of cosmic dust.
Before entering Earth’s atmosphere, such an object is known as a meteoroid, he explained. What people see in the sky is the meteor, which appears as a fireball as it descends towards Earth, Feierstein said.
Feierstein clarified that, as the meteor is travelling at speeds of 60,000 to 70,000km/h, the intense friction generated in the atmosphere can cause the meteor to explode, producing the loud bangs reported by witnesses. The fragments that eventually reach the ground are known as meteorites, he added.
According to Feierstein, space is filled with such objects travelling through it, meaning events like the one seen on Sunday evening can occur at any time of the year.
Experts at the European Space Agency (ESA) also believe the phenomenon was a meteor and are currently analysing images and data. More details are expected to emerge over the course of Monday.
Following the appearance of the bright meteor on Sunday evening, German police reported that fragments had fallen in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, causing damage to houses and roofs. Reports of damage came from areas including the Hunsrück, the Eifel, and the city of Koblenz.
The phenomenon in the sky attracted attention across large parts of western Germany, with eyewitnesses from several federal states sharing their observations on social media.
However, an astronomer in Heidelberg suggested that the orange colour observed could indicate that the object was actually space debris rather than a natural meteor.
The fireball was also widely reported on specialised astronomy forums. Many readers contacted RTL to share their astonishment and, in some cases, photographs of the phenomenon. Images and questions also circulated widely on Facebook.
RTL user Laurent Bauler said the house suddenly lit up “as if a car with its headlights on was shining inside”. When he went to the window, he saw an extremely bright streak pass over the house and disappear within seconds, he said.
Around half a minute later, he heard “an enormous bang”, adding that the window beside him “shook violently”. He said he had “never experienced anything like it”.
Anyone who captured photos of the phenomenon is invited to send them to red@rtl.lu.
