“Highly unlikely” meteor fragments will be found

The Director of the Armagh Observatory has said it is “highly unlikely” that fragments from a meteorite, believed to have landed in Donegal, will be found.

The Chairman of Astronomy Ireland, David Moore yesterday said they believed the meteorite had touched down in Donegal but they were relying on eye-witness reports so they could set down a specific location.

Thousands of people reported seeing a fireball blaze across the sky last Wednesday evening.

According to this morning’s Irish Times however, Prof Mark Bailey said the fireball “probably didn’t produce a meteorite”, and if it did, the size would be very small, possibly less than a small stone.

Nevertheless, despite the downcast outlook, Astronomy Ireland has predicted the fall will attract amateur astronomists to the North West in their droves.

Martina Bromley from Fáilite Ireland North West says the hunt for the fireball fragments is another opportunity to promote all that Donegal has to offer.