‘Major’ Fireball Spotted In Pacific Northwest, More Than 200 Sightings Reported [View all]

[peoli]

A giant fireball was spotted in the Pacific Northwest Wednesday, sparking more than 200 reports from observers.

The American Meteor Society received at least 234 reports of a “major fireball event” over the Pacific Northwest and southwestern Canada around 6 a.m. PDT. Many reports came from Oregon, as well as Washington, British Columbia, Alberta, Idaho and Montana.

“A fireball is another term for a very bright meteor, generally brighter than magnitude -4, which is about the same magnitude of the planet Venus in the morning or evening sky,” Jim Todd from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry told the Oregon Coast.

AMS experts say the meteor entered Earth’s atmosphere over Washington and traveled east to west, landing in the Pacific Ocean, Fox 12 reports.

Individuals that saw the fireball describe the event as something extraordinary.

http://www.ibtimes.com/major-fireball-spotted-pacific-northwest-more-200-sightings-reported-1450072