A rare fireball was spotted across the sky on Monday afternoon, briefly illuminating the atmosphere. Around 1:15 p.m., the American Meteor Society received 22 reports from observers in Kansas and Oklahoma who saw the fireball streaking through the sky. The event lasted only a few seconds as the fireball moved northeast before vanishing.
At least three of the witnesses reported hearing the fireball as it passed. Fireballs, which are rarer than typical meteors, occur when a meteor enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up due to friction. They are much brighter than regular meteors and, in some cases, can even produce a loud sound or explode, similar to the 2013 Chelyabinsk Meteor event in Russia.
The fireball appeared during the Geminid Meteor shower, which is currently active and will peak on December 14. This will be followed by the Ursid Meteor shower, which will conclude the year’s meteor events.
Western Kansas, in particular, is known as one of the best places to find meteorites, which can be valuable depending on their origin. The U.S. Geological Survey provides guidance on how to identify potential meteorites.
Anyone who witnessed Monday’s fireball or has seen another one can report their sighting to the appropriate authorities.
