Meteor Sighted Over Georgia and Southeastern United States
A bright fireball streaked across the sky, likely a meteor entering Earth's atmosphere. Witnesses reported a loud boom and shaking, with some speculating bits may have crashed into homes. Experts confirmed it was an asteroidal fragment that disintegrated high above ground. The event was captured by weather radars and satellites, sparking curiosity and excitement among residents.
Those around him began to speculate it was a possible meteor. Williams, 39, described it as a huge firework that disappeared without a bang or smoke. Bill Cooke from NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office said the meteor was first seen above Oxford in Newton County, traveling southwest at 30,000 mph. It disintegrated 27 miles above West Forest, releasing energy equal to 20 tons of TNT.
About 100 reports of fireball sightings were received from Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. Dylan Lusk from the Weather Service office in Peachtree City mentioned the fireball created a sonic boom and shaking as it entered the atmosphere. The fireball was produced by a 3-feet asteroidal fragment.
A fireball is a bright meteor, with thousands occurring daily but often unnoticed. The NWS in Charleston, South Carolina, reported a streak likely a meteor near the North Carolina and Virginia border. Unconfirmed reports suggested possible bits crashing into a home in Henry County.
Most of the object likely burned up in the atmosphere. Doppler weather radars detected meteorite signatures falling to the ground during the event. Calls flooded into the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, intrigued by the bright streak.
In 2009, a meteorite crashed into a Cartersville home, now displayed at the museum. The museum has a fireball camera on its roof, hoping to have captured Thursday's event.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
