The American Meteor Society has confirmed that a fireball that streaked most prominently across central Indiana on Friday morning traveled across eight states.
The nonprofit scientific organization fielded nearly 150 reports – and more than a few spectacular videos – of the phenomenon that was visible just before 2 a.m. EDT Friday across the skies of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky and northern Alabama.
The American Meteor Society received 149 reports about a very bright fireball seen over U.S. Midwest on July 22, 2022. This is what it looked like from Greenfield, Indiana [more videos: https://t.co/XIS4G1ZcvQ] pic.twitter.com/HSon55x6p3
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) July 24, 2022
“The main thing that gives us an idea is the wide area that it was seen, plus the fact that it only lasted a few seconds,” Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for AMS, told The Indianapolis Star.
Specifically, Lunsford told the newspaper that the fireball likely lasted between three and five seconds, with a northeastern trajectory that carried it just north of Indianapolis. He also said the sightings were likely a “random occurrence,” meaning there is no indication the fireball was part of any larger meteor shower, which typically peak just before dawn.
OUT OF THIS WORLD: A flash of light streaks across the night sky in Indiana, as the American Meteor Society says it received more than 100 reports across multiple states of a possible 'fireball.' https://t.co/sMqES8fegA pic.twitter.com/sO1i8Yj4ej
— ABC News (@ABC) July 22, 2022
According to the IndyStar, “fireball season” across the Midwest occurs in the summer when more people are outdoors to view the astronomical events.
According to Space.com, meteors are pieces of space dust and debris that burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in bright streaks across the night sky, and particularly large chunks of material can create an extra-bright fireball streak.
“Most meteors are only the size of tiny pebbles. A meteor the size of a softball can produce light equivalent to the full moon for a short instant. The reason for this is the extreme velocity at which these objects strike the atmosphere,” AMS wrote on its website.
This video taken from Franklin, Indiana was shared with WRTV after many across the state reported seeing a possible fireball in the sky and a loud "boom" early Friday. Sightings have also been reported in IL, MI, OH, and KY.
— WRTV Indianapolis (@wrtv) July 22, 2022
🎥: Provided by Cody Brunson. pic.twitter.com/Ep7sevHJuQ
On average, fireballs have about the same brightness as the planet Venus as it can be seen in the morning or evening skies, according to the society.
“The initial computer-generated trajectory shows that (Friday’s) fireball entered the atmosphere over Advance, Indiana, and its flight ended near Burlington, Indiana. Both of these towns lie just northwest of Indianapolis. There are no reports of loud booms with this event, which indicate that the fireball completely disintegrated while still high in the atmosphere,” the society wrote on its website.
New: This is video of the Fireball seen in portions of Central Indiana. Thank you to Brittany O’Sullivan Scheckles for sharing this video. @wrtv People also report seeing or hearing it as well as in Ohio & Illinois. pic.twitter.com/sTdsry2Bf0
— Rafael Sánchez (@RafaelOnTV) July 22, 2022
Visit the society’s event page for Friday’s fireball to view the videos and read comments from witnesses.
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