Fireball lights up sky over eastern US
Featured image: Fireball seen over the eastern United States on January 25, 2017. Credit: Rob Swanson
A bright meteor streaked through the sky over the eastern United States around 09:08 UTC (04:08 local time) on January 25, 2017. The event lasted a couple of seconds and was caught on security camera in Huntsville, North Carolina.
By 17:27 UTC, the American Meteor Society received 12 reports about the fireball. It was seen from Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. There was no sound associated with the event.
Credit: AMS
Several people from Mount Holly, NC reported a loud noise between 04:10 and 04:15 local time. One woman said it sounded like a large truck dropping a dumpster.
Jim Craig, planetarium director at The Schiele Museum in Gastonia, said the "sonic boom” heard all across Mount Holly came from a meteor breaking up in the atmosphere
"There is likely no meteorite to be found," NBC Charlotte's Chief Meteorologist said. "Meteors aren't that uncommon. What makes this event unique is the fact that it was very low in the sky and the amount of time it was seen."
Update, January 31
Chris Adcox managed to record this fireball with his dashboard cam:
The Watchers team and our contributors bring the latest on extreme weather, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, space weather, and all things science. We're all about making sense of the natural world and keeping you informed on what’s happening. Got a tip or a question? Hit us up using the form at newstips!
Witnessed a similar fireball 10:28~pm over georgia jan 29th but no sound
I saw it as far away as south central Indiana
I hope we continue to see these spectacular sites from the heavens just as long as they cause no harm to humans.