A bright green meteor has been seen flashing across the night skies above several Turkish cities.
Videos and images on social media showed the fireball streaking across the skies of Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa and Safranbolu on Friday.
The meteor blazed green and blue as it made its way across the horizon, leaving a tail of bright sparks in tow, to gasps from locals who gathered to view the spectacle.
The Turkish Space Agency confirmed the meteor sighting on X, formerly Twitter, saying: “Colours formed when meteors enter the atmosphere; it varies depending on several factors, such as the chemical composition of the meteor, its speed, and the gases present in the Earth’s atmosphere.
“Different elements found in the meteor can create different colours when burning in the Earth’s atmosphere.
“For example, sodium can create a bright orange-yellow colour, magnesium can create green or blue tones, and ionised calcium can create a purple colour.
“Larger meteorids can release more energy at their entrance, creating more intense colours.
“Overall, these factors cause the appearance of a variety of colours, making each meteoric event a unique and visually impressive natural phenomenon.”
Meteor sightings are relatively common around the world, with many cases of video footage of them, including in England.
Last September, green streaks of light in the sky were seen in Turkey as a meteor passed through the atmosphere in Gumushane province.