Bright fireball streaks across sky over N.J., Pa., other eastern states

If you thought you saw a bright flash of light streaking across the night sky Monday night, it was likely the same meteor that was seen by dozens of people in the eastern United States.
The American Meteor Society received more than 230 reports from people who said they saw a bright fireball roughly between 7:35 and 7:50 p.m.
Most of the sightings were reported in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, with some as far north as Connecticut and Ontario, Canada and a few as far west as Michigan.
Among the New Jersey sightings were from sky watchers in Atlantic City in Atlantic County, Cherry Hill and Voorhees in Camden County, Old Bridge and Plainsboro in Middlesex County, Toms River in Ocean County, Chester and Parsippany in Morris County, Pohatcong in Warren County, and Springfield in Union County.
The fireball was also seen over the Washington, D.C. area, with several video clips posted on X.
Among the sightings in Pennsylvania were from people in Lancaster, Nazareth, Pottstown, Columbia and Honesdale.
Some described it as a green streak, and others said it looked yellowish and lasted as long as 7 seconds.
A fireball is a meteor that is bigger and brighter than a typical meteor.
It‘s possible Monday night’s fireball may have been associated with the annual Northern Taurid meteor shower, which started in mid-October but was expected to reach its peak level of activity during the late night and early morning hours on Nov. 5 through Nov. 12.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower has been known to generate some bright fireballs.
Another autumn meteor shower that can produce bright fireballs is the Leonid meteor shower, which started to be visible on Nov. 3 but is expected to be at its best from the late-night hours on Sunday, Nov. 17 into the early morning hours on Monday, Nov. 18.
Experts from EarthSky.org say another good viewing time might be during the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning, Nov. 17.
However, light from the November moon may dampen the view of this meteor shower.
The so-called “beaver moon” turns full on Friday, Nov. 15 and it will still be about 90% to 95% illuminated during the Leonid’s peak period, but about 10 to 15 meteors per hour are expected to be visible from dark locations.
The November full moon will be the last big and bright “supermoon” of the year.
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at [email protected] or on X at @LensReality.