Hundreds of Queenslanders have been left in shock and awe from a spectacular meteor that lit up the night sky, creating a sonic boom as it burned up while hurtling towards Earth.

Key points: One witness thought the meteor's sonic boom was an earthquake

One witness thought the meteor's sonic boom was an earthquake Craig Turton says he felt a tremor he took to be an impact

Craig Turton says he felt a tremor he took to be an impact But Julie Straayer from the local Astronomical Society says it's unlikely the space traveller reached Earth

Residents from Blackwater in central Queensland to Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales have reported seeing the astronomical wonder on Saturday night, with many people taking to social media to discuss the rare sight.

"I was driving on the Gatton bypass and the sky went a purplish colour for a few seconds and then there was a big flash of bright light," Jill Naumann wrote.

Craig Turton captured this image of the meteor at North Pine Dam, north of Brisbane. ( Instagram: @craigturts )

"[It] spooked the crap out of me."

Other people described the sound and feel of the space arrival as an "explosion" when it passed overhead.

Jac Wil-in from Bundamba said: "I thought it was a little earthquake or something. I heard three booms in quick succession and the house shook. Set all the dogs off in the street."

Joanne Springate said: "It sounded like a huge bonfire had been lit."

Bev Willdin in Burpengary, north of Brisbane, said it gave her quite a shock.

"I thought someone was banging on my window very loud, scared the daylights out of me," she said.

The spectacular light show was keenly watched by the South-East Queensland Astronomical Society, which witnessed three meteors shoot through the atmosphere.

Society vice-president Julie Straayer said it was a special night for space-watching.

"It was such a bright flash of light," she said.

"Depending on what it was made of, the metal, would have determined the reaction, including the colour of the light we saw.

"We were just in the right place at the right time, and looking up."

'Sonic boom can be pretty loud'

Photographer Craig Turton captured the spectacular sight at North Pine Dam.

"It is about the bottom two-thirds of the trail that I saw, and it was a while later that I felt the tremor from what I assume would have been an impact," he said.

But Ms Straayer said it was unlikely the meteor reached the Earth.

"I don't think it hit the ground, we would have heard something a bit more," she said.

"The sonic boom is the sound of the rock breaking up, burning up in the atmosphere — it can be pretty loud."