Strange flashing in the night sky

[ngood77]

Yep, happened up here in Sevenoaks about 8pm

 

[tubaman]

I was in the garden using my camera earlier. Could have been the automatic flash.

 

[cloud]

It's the Triffids

 

[Mr deez]

Train tracks.

 

[seven stands]

Sàw a flash about 720 walking towards ground assumed it was lightning

 

[terryberry1]

I have seen too, It happened again 10 minutes ago. Its not lightening

 

[cloud]

Stargazers are being urged to keep their eyes peeled on Tuesday night as Earth braces for the peak of the 2011
Geminids meteor shower.

The final celestial event of the year is set to peak on 13 and 14 December in the UK between 8pm and 2am with another
potential chance to view it on 14 and 15 December - that’s if you are brave enough to go out.

Weather permitting, Brits could see as many as 40 meteors per hour during the shower, which has been billed by Nasa
as the best one of the year.

 

[terryberry1]

Stargazers are being urged to keep their eyes peeled on Tuesday night as Earth braces for the peak of the 2011
Geminids meteor shower.

The final celestial event of the year is set to peak on 13 and 14 December in the UK between 8pm and 2am with another
potential chance to view it on 14 and 15 December - that’s if you are brave enough to go out.

Weather permitting, Brits could see as many as 40 meteors per hour during the shower, which has been billed by Nasa
as the best one of the year.

That may explain it then.

 

[00snook]

Is it JCLs?

 

[Notters]

It wasn't lighting. Saw a couple of strange flashes coming back from Sainsbury's in Gloucester.............complete absence of thunder, so any pillock that says it was lightning is........well.........a pillock

Thunder is the sound of rain being rapidly boiled in the atmosphere. If there is lightning but no rain then there will be no thunder. It happens frequently.

 

[sten_super]

Thunder is the sound of rain being rapidly boiled in the atmosphere. If there is lightning but no rain then there will be no thunder. It happens frequently.

Are you sure? I thought that thunder was the expansion of air, nothing to do with rain?

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Thunder is the sound of rain being rapidly boiled in the atmosphere. If there is lightning but no rain then there will be no thunder. It happens frequently.

But it's the lightning that heats the air.

 

[Fef]

Train tracks.

There weren't any ! Was probably caused by the collision of some large hadrons somewhere. They make a bit of a flash them large hadrons when they bang together.

 

[Acker79]

Apparently, when lightning is further than 10 miles away, the thunder will be inaudible


Regarding thunder...
According to wikipedia (yes, I know):
Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the listener, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble (brontide). The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning. In turn, this expansion of air creates a sonic shock wave which produces the sound of thunder, often referred to as a clap, crack, or peal of thunder. The distance of the lightning can be calculated by the listener based on the time interval from when the lightning is seen to when the sound is heard.

 

[Jimmy's gonna get ya!]

Oh my days, this is for real.

IT WAS LIGHTNING! A LONG WAY AWAY!

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Thunder is the sound of rain being rapidly boiled in the atmosphere. If there is lightning but no rain then there will be no thunder. It happens frequently.

I could easily be wrong, but that doesn't sound true at all - at least the first time I've ever heard that.

 

[BLOCK F]

Saw 2 flashes that appeared to be out at sea at about 6pm last night.Didn't look like lightning,but I don't know.
Very strange,I thought.

 

[Spiros]

I saw it at about half 8. Definitely lightning but a long way away

 

[looney]

Sheet lightning I thought.

 

[sam86]

Anyone know what they are? Seen several lightning'ish like flashes tonight

its lightning you prick

Brilliant