The American Meteor Society (AMS) designated Monday night’s bright fireball sighting as Event 6846-2024. The corporation has received 236 reports so far.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower was at its peak Monday night. The Taurids (there are the Northern and Southern Taurid meteor showers) are known for producing fireballs, so it is quite possible this cosmic ‘intrud-er’ to our skies was part of that peak.
The fireball’s computed trajectory, based on the submitted reports, shows it took place in the skies of Pennsylvania.
The fireball was seen as far north as Ontario and as far east as Ohio. It was also seen in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and New York at an approximately 7:48 p.m.
Observer reports listed multiple colors of the fireball, with green being reported often. The composition of the vaporizing meteor determines its colors.
Thousands of fireballs — or pieces of cosmic debris — occur annually around the world, 24 hours a day. If a fireball fragments and sonic booms are heard, the event is known as a “bolide.”
According to the American Meteor Society, “The dominant composition of a meteoroid can play an important part in the observed colors of a fireball, with certain elements displaying signature colors when vaporized. For example, sodium produces a bright yellow color, nickel shows as green, and magnesium as blue-white.”
Next up in our skies will be the weekend’s full moon and Leonid meteor shower. I’ll have details for you on Thursday. In the meantime, enjoy bright Venus in the Southwest after sunset and bright Jupiter in the East starting at about 8 p.m. EST.
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