UK Meteor Observation Network verifies dashcam footage of small meteor over England

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Eleanor Higgs captured a meteor soaring through the atmosphere at 12:30 BST on Monday, April 13, while driving the eastbound A43 near Corby. She was returning from a holiday when the object appeared, describing the streak as “huge” and “bright,” and larger than anything she’d ever seen in the sky. In the isolation of the rural landscape, she joked that she felt she was being abducted by aliens.

The UK Meteor Observation Network verified the dashcam footage. Reports of the event flooded in from East Anglia, Lincolnshire, and East Yorkshire.

The meteor’s actual size was minimal

John Maclean of the UK Meteor Observation Network categorized the object as a “smallish meteor.” It traveled at approximately 35,000 mph (56,000 km/h).

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The visual spectacle creates a persistent optical illusion. Maclean explains that meteors typically range in size from a grain of sand to a tennis ball. Their extreme velocity generates friction with the atmosphere, producing a luminosity that makes a pebble seem like a planetary threat. The eye perceives magnitude where there’s only speed.

Why the sighting spanned eastern England

Data indicates the meteor’s trajectory remained over the North Sea during its descent. This positioning allowed observers across several counties to witness the event simultaneously.

This wasn’t a scheduled performance. Maclean confirmed the meteor wasn’t linked to any known meteor shower. It was a sporadic encounter—a lone piece of space debris cutting through the air rather than part of a predictable celestial cycle.

The event reveals how modern dashcams have turned every commute into a potential scientific observation. We’ve traded the solitude of the road for a network of accidental witnesses.

How fast was the meteor moving?

The meteor traveled at approximately 35,000 mph (56,000 km/h).

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Was this part of a meteor shower?

No, the UK Meteor Observation Network confirmed it was not linked to any meteor shower and was an isolated incident.