Did you see a fireball in the Tri-Cities sky last night? Here’s what likely caused it
Numerous Tri-Citians reported seeing a flash of light in the sky at some point overnight between Dec. 18 and 19. They took to social media to see who else experienced the phenomenon, finding that many saw the same thing.
So, what was the mysterious fireball that soared across the Tri-Cities sky last night?
Here’s what we know.
Reports of fireball in Tri-Cities sky
The American Meteor Society takes submissions for sightings of fireballs. Multiple sightings were reported in the Tri-Cities area last night, along with matching reports elsewhere in eastern Washington, and in Oregon, Idaho and Canada.
The Tri-Cities area reports describe a bright streak of light lasting a couple seconds, with a glow that remained for 15-20 seconds. Most of the reports are marked between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.
On Reddit, several locals shared their experience. Users from other areas commented, saying the fireball was seen in numerous states with similar reports.
It’s likely these viewers saw a meteor from one of two ongoing showers.
Current northern hemisphere meteor showers
Both the Geminid and Ursid meteor showers are in progress, according to the American Meteor Society.
The Geminid Meteor Shower is often the strongest shower of the year. It peaked Dec. 12 and 13, but lasts through Dec. 21. The American Meteor Society reports Geminids can generally be seen in the northern hemisphere by 10 p.m., with bright, intense colors and a medium-slow velocity. Persistent trains are not normally seen.
It’s followed by the Ursid Meteor Shower, which is generally tougher to catch. It lasts from Dec. 16 to 26, peaking Dec. 21 and 22. The best time for activity is around 1 to 2 a.m. locally. It’s weaker in presence and probability than the Geminids, but still viewable in the northern hemisphere.
However, this year, the moon’s conditions during both peaks offer better viewing for the Ursids.
While it’s impossible to say for sure what Tri-Citians saw last night, the chances it was a meteor are pretty good.
This story was originally published December 19, 2024 at 4:43 PM.