A dazzling meteor illuminated the skies north of Washington on Wednesday evening, captivating skywatchers with its magnificent display. The celestial phenomenon, believed to be a fireball or an exceptionally bright meteor, was visible from Virginia to New York and even parts of eastern Canada. Numerous eyewitnesses shared their experiences on Capital Weather Gang’s Facebook page, describing the awe-inspiring event.
One witness, Danny Farkas, from Falls Church, Virginia, expressed his amazement, stating, “I saw it in Falls Church. Quite impressive! Very bright and then it looked like it may have exploded.” Stephenie Constantine from Hagerstown, Maryland, recounted how she witnessed the meteor disappear into nothingness above her neighborhood, adding, “I thought it might hit the ground, but I don’t think it did.” Sandy Lukasiak Chaney, also from Maryland, described the meteor as a bright streak that exploded into a radiant light. Tom Eng, who was driving north on Route 234 bypass from Manassas toward I-66, shared his excitement, saying, “It looked low altitude, and it burned out just before it fell below the horizon. So cool!”
According to the American Meteor Society, over 150 reports were received about the meteor sighting. The reports indicated that the meteor was visible as far west as eastern Ohio and as far north as Upstate New York. The highest concentration of reports originated from Northern Virginia and central Maryland. The organization’s trajectory algorithm suggests that the meteor traveled from southwest to northeast through western Pennsylvania before disintegrating in the atmosphere.
While fireballs streak across the sky daily in various parts of the world, many go unnoticed as they occur over the ocean or uninhabited regions. The Mid-Atlantic region has witnessed similar events in the past, with fireballs frequently gracing the D.C. sky. The American Meteor Society explains that thousands of meteors of fireball magnitude enter Earth’s atmosphere each day. However, most of them occur over unpopulated areas or during daylight hours, making them difficult to detect. Nighttime fireballs also have a low chance of being noticed due to the limited number of people outside to witness them.
This recent meteor sighting follows a similar occurrence in early September when a brilliant fireball streaked across parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania, visible from Virginia to New York. The Mid-Atlantic region seems to be a hotspot for these celestial displays, captivating both seasoned skywatchers and casual observers alike.
The mesmerizing beauty of these meteors serves as a reminder of the vast wonders that exist beyond our planet. As we gaze up at the night sky, we are reminded of the infinite mysteries waiting to be discovered and the awe-inspiring nature of the universe.