The tranquillity of the Hampshire night sky was shattered in the spring of 1891. A meteor, a celestial interloper, blazed across the heavens, leaving a trail of pale green fire in its wake. This cosmic event, witnessed by numerous individuals, caused a sensation throughout the county, prompting a flurry of correspondence to local newspapers.

Arthur Angell, a resident of Southampton, penned a detailed account of his observation to the Hampshire Independent, a precursor to the Daily Echo. He described the meteor as a "ball of pale green fire," its brilliance illuminating the twilight sky. 

Angell, intrigued by the unusual green hue, speculated that it was due to the meteor's unique chemical composition, igniting upon entry into Earth's atmosphere.

A week later, another letter graced the pages of the Hampshire Independent, this time from NCH Nisbett of Winchester. 

Nisbett, along with fellow members of the Hampshire Field Club, had witnessed the meteor while awaiting a train at Fareham railway station. 

He corroborated Angell's account, noting the pale green colour and the meteor's eastward trajectory. 

Nisbett also mentioned a previous sighting of a similar meteor a few evenings earlier, further fueling public interest in these celestial visitors.

The fascination with meteors in Hampshire is not confined to the annals of history. In recent times, these cosmic wanderers have once again graced the county's skies. 

On January 12th of this year, a vibrant green meteor streaked across the night sky, captivating observers from Cheshire to Hampshire and London to Bristol. 

Its brilliance illuminated the darkness, reminding all who witnessed it of the vastness and wonder of the universe.

A few months prior, in November, another meteor made its presence known over Stockbridge. 

Initially mistaken for a helicopter en route to Middle Wallop airfield, the object's trajectory and altitude ultimately revealed its true nature – a meteor, a fragment of cosmic debris, briefly illuminating the Hampshire landscape before fading into the night.

These celestial events, separated by more than a century, serve as a reminder of our place in the cosmos. They spark curiosity, inspire awe, and connect us to the vast universe beyond our world.