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Bright fireball seen over the Midwest, U.S.

iowa-fireball-october-31-2021

Image credit: Dan B., AMS

A bright fireball was reported by many eyewitnesses in the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri, U.S. at 01:37 UTC on October 31, 2021 (20:34 CDT, October 30).

The American Meteor Society (AMS) received 101 reports, 1 video, and 3 images of the event.1

"Analysis of their accounts, combined with duration information from a couple of publicly accessible cameras, indicates that the meteor first appeared 96 km (60 miles) above the Iowa town of Reinbeck, moving almost due south at 140 000 km/h (87 000 mph)," NASA Meteor Watch said.2

"It disintegrated 71 km (44 miles) above Oskaloosa, having traveled 117 km (73 miles) through the upper atmosphere in just under 3 seconds."

Fireball over Midwest on October 31, 2021. Credit: AMS

Image credit: Annika S., AMS

Image credit: Jared S., AMS

Image credit: Dan B., AMS

References:

1 Event 7116-2001 – AMS

2 NASA Meteor Watch – FB

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