One recent study of more than 450 Sun-like stars within about 325 light-years of Earth indicated most had high iron content in their photospheres, or on their surfaces - again, evidence the stars had gorged themselves on planetary material.

BBC: Star 'eats' a planet

"I was smoking outside the door when I looked up at the sky and suddenly the sky lit up with a bright light and something that looked like the sun fell somewhere to the south of Yekaterinburg, " wrote Sergei Bobunets, quoted by AFP news agency.

BBC: Russia meteor eyewitness: 'Something like the sun fell'

The trees were naturally very colourful and the sun seemed to create conditions where it seemed like the light and air were objects themselves.

BBC: Meet this month��s BBC Travel Photo Nomad