Photographer captures jaw-dropping meteor streak across Scottish loch

Photographer captures jaw-dropping meteor streak across Scottish loch Thomas Heaton/Rex

A British photographer may have captured the most breathtaking pictures of the recent meteor shower across Britain.

Thomas Heaton grabbed his camera in time when the magnificent sight trailed through the sky over a Scottish loch.

When the meteor appeared over the UK on Friday 21 September, Thomas was in the right place at the right time and chose Galloway Forest, the darkest area of Britain and the UK's first Dark Sky Park.

Speaking to Rex Features, Thomas, from Whitley Bay, explained: 'I was one of a handful who managed to photograph this dazzling astronomic light show and it just so happened that I was placed in the UK's number one dark spot.

'It was 10.54pm and me and my missus were star gazing at Galloway Forest Park when the largest meteor I could ever imagine seeing flew straight above our head.

He added: 'My first thought was a plane crash, as it lit up the whole area. I quickly realised it was a comet and grabbed my camera to take a quick snap.'

People across northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland took to social media sites to report the bright objects moving across the sky.

Jason Townsend wrote on Facebook: 'I saw it at 10:55 this evening going over Cumbria. It was amazing, bright, looked like a bunch of stars shooting through the sky. Couldn't get me phone out quick enough to get a pic.'

Graham Telford, from Leeds, wrote: 'To be honest, at first I thought it was a couple of planes too close together, but they were all on identical lines across sky.'

The Kielder Observatory in Kielder Forest, Northumberland commented on Twitter: 'Of 30 years observing the sky, fireball best thing I have ever seen period.'

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Want to see the Northern Lights in 2012/2013? Check out the best places to see them...

Where to see the Northern Lights

Iceland
 If the conditions are right, you can view the Northern Lights throughout Iceland, although you have a greater chance if you're far from the city lights. You can choose Reykjavik as a base and travel two to three hours to the countryside or opt to stay in a rural hotel. <a href="http://www.re.is/" target="_blank">Reykjavik Excursions</a> runs tours each night from Reykjavik to the countryside for £26 per person. Discover the World offers a three-night trip staying in the rural Hotel Ranga and the Northern Lights Inn in south Iceland. You'll visit the Golden Circle route, which covers the Thingvellir National Park and at night you'll search for the Northern Lights from the hotel window or the hot tub before staying at the Northern Lights Inn near the geothermal Blue Lagoon. The trip costs £532 per person including airport transfers, accommodation, entrance to Blue Lagoon and a driver/guide. Visit <a href="http://www.discover-the-world.co.uk/en/" target="_blank">discover-the-world.co.uk</a>
Yukon, Canada
 In Yukon, Canada the Northern Lights can be viewed from August meaning you can enjoy your summer holiday and see the amazing display. Watch the green, yellow, magenta and blue lights dance from the comfort of your cabin or from a steaming hot tub. For a winter visit, Frontier Canada offers a three-night stay at the Inn on the Lake with meals, transfers, snowmobiling, Aurora Borealis viewing, snowshoeing, tobogganing and winter clothing from £558 per person between December and April. Visit <a href="http://www.frontier-canada.co.uk/" target="_blank">frontier-canada.co.uk</a>
Longyearbyen, Norway
 Longyearbyen is the most northern town in the world and offers a backdrop of amazing table mountains and remoteness. You can experience the dancing Northern Lights on a snowmobile safari, allowing you to travel away from the lights of Longyearbyen where they appear even brighter. Around Longyearbyen, you'll find restaurants and cafes serving local food, like reindeer, grouse and arctic char. Stay at the <a href="http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-spitsbergen" target="_blank">Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen</a> and drink at its pub, which is the most northern in the world!
Saariselka, Finland
 Did you know that some regions of Finland have over 200 nights a year when you can see the Northern Lights? Saariselka is a lively village in eastern Lapland where you can see the lights and enjoy winter sports. Stay at Kakslauttanen Igloo Village for the chance to view the beautiful and eerie lights from a cosy log cabin, glass igloo or snow igloo. A three-night stay in a log cabin starts at £945 based on two people sharing. Visit <a href="http://www.kakslauttanen.fi/" target="_blank">kakslauttanen.fi</a>
Northern Scotland, UK
 Scotland is the most likely place in the UK to see the Northern Lights. The best regions are Aberdeenshire, Northern Highlands, Orkney and Shetland. Although it's much further from the Arctic than Norway, Sweden and Finland, it is possible to see them during winter. Stay at the Pentland Guest House in Thurso, where owner Liz Sutherland can contact you when the lights are visible. She'll also arrange for minibuses, prepare packed evening meals and serve breakfast until 12pm throughout winter if you're having a lie-in after a late-night viewing. Visit <a href="http://www.pentlandlodgehouse.co.uk/" target="_blank">pentlandlodgehouse.co.uk</a>
Abisko, Sweden
 The clear sky and dry location of Abisko in Swedish Lapland provide an ideal backdrop for the Northern Lights and the village is one of the world's top places to see them. It lies 195km north of the Arctic Circle and apart from seeing nature's stunning light display, there's snowshoeing and skiing to enjoy in Abisko. Discover the World offers an ICEHOTEL & Abisko holiday from £1,195 per person including flights, two nights at the ICEHOTEL, one night at Abisko, a three-course meal and an excursion to the Sky Station. Visit <a href="http://www.discover-the-world.co.uk/" target="_blank">discover-the-world.co.uk</a>
Tromso, Norway
 To see how accessible the Northern Lights can be, head to Tromso in Norway where you can see some stunning displays above the city centre. Even though they can be viewed in Tromso, you may want to escape the city to see the Northern Lights at their best. The Aurora Zone offers a four-night stay in and around Tromso for £1,675, with one night in Tromso and three nights in the wilderness outside the city. Meals, a husky safari, flights and transfers are included. Visit <a href="http://www.theaurorazone.com/holidays/13/the-aurora-heartlands" target="_blank">theaurorazone.com</a>
Northwest Territories, Canada
 With winter lasting half of the year in Canada's Northwest Territories, there are over 240 nights when it’s possible to view the aurora. The best time to see the lights is between December and March and Yellowknife has the most potential. As the landscape is quite flat in the Northwest Territories, you can see the full display from most areas and the region also boasts clear skies. At the Aurora Village you can enjoy the whole Northern Lights experience with a viewing tour, a husky ride and watching the display from the comfort of the outdoor heated seats. Visit <a href="http://www.auroravillage.com/" target="_blank">auroravillage.com</a>
Fairbanks, Alaska
 Because of its close proximity to the North Pole, Fairbanks in Alaska's Interior is one of the world's top places to see the Northern Lights. The city has the auroral oval passing over it, meaning there are many nights when the lights are out so you have a great chance of seeing them here. Stay in a remote cabin away from the city lights to get the best views. You can also get close to the aurora by going on a dog tour at night and experiencing mushing. Visit <a href="http://www.explorefairbanks.com/" target="_blank">explorefairbanks.com</a>
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
 For easy access to the Northern Lights in Greenland, stable weather conditions and very little settlement creating pollution-free skies, head to Kangerlussuaq, where you can see the magnificent display in all its glory. Around Kangerlussuaq you can experience the Greenlandic ice sheet, which is a 100,000-year-old ice cap that you can fly, drive, sail and walk to. There's also hiking opportunities where you might see the musk oxen and reindeer.