Thursday 2 June 2016

Fireball over Arizona.

The American Meteor Society has received reports of a bright fireball meteor being seen over much of the southwest United States at about 4.00 am local time on Thursday 2 June 2016 (about 11.00 am GMT). The fireball was seen across Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, California, Texas, Colorado and Nevada, though the majority of sightings came from Arizona. A fireball is defined as a meteor (shooting star) brighter than the planet Venus. These are typically caused by pieces of rock burning up in the atmosphere, but can be the result of man-made space-junk burning up on re-entry.

 The 2 June 2016 Arizona meteor seen from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Fox 10.

Objects of this size probably enter the Earth's atmosphere several times a year, though unless they do so over populated areas they are unlikely to be noticed. They are officially described as fireballs if they produce a light brighter than the planet Venus. It is possible that this object will have produced meteorites that reached the surface (an object visible in the sky is a meteor, a rock that falls from the sky and can be physically held and examined is a meteorite).

Witness reports can help astronomers to understand these events. If you witnessed this fireball you can report it to the American Meteor Society here

See also...

http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/bright-fireball-meteor-seen-over.htmlBright fireball meteor seen over Southern California.                                                     The American Meteor Society has received reports of a bright fireball meteor being seen over much of southern California slightly at about 9.30 pm local time on Monday 23 April 2016 (about 4.30 am on Tuesday 24 April...
http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/brieght-fireball-meteor-seen-over-much.htmlBright 'fireball' meteor seen over much of New Zealand.                                         Witnesses have reported seeing a bright fireball type meteor over much of New Zealand at about 9.00 pm local time on Tuesday 5 April 2016. The meteor...
http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/bright-fireball-metoer-seen-over-much.htmlBright 'fireball' meteor seen over much of England.                                                       The UK Meteor Observation Network has recieved roports of a bright fireball meteor being seen over much of southern England slightly after 3.15 am GMT...
Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.