Hundreds of people reported seeing a fireball soaring across the sky in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to the American Meteorological Society.
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NASA has confirmed that the celestial spectacle witnessed on the East Coast was a meteor.
According to scientists, the meteor traveled 117 miles southwest at a speed of 30,000 miles per hour. It fell from 48 miles above Mastic Beach, Long Island, before disintegrating 27 miles above Galloway, New Jersey — near Atlantic City. Scientists based these estimates on eyewitness accounts and footage from public access cameras.
Nicholas Samuelian told CBS News that he was driving on Route 70 in Medford Lakes when he saw what he believed was a commercial airplane with sunlight reflecting off it.
"I didn't know what to think at first. I never saw anything like that. So, it was one of the craziest things I have ever seen," he said.
"Immediately after that, it started breaking up into pieces. And there were all different flashes of light. That's when I realized I should grab my phone and start taking a video," Samuelian added.
Meteor Showers Are Common Early in the Year
NASA noted that such sightings are common during this time of year. Meteorologists consider February through April to be "fireball season."
Meteors are formed when space debris—known as meteoroids—enter Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, creating bright streaks of light through friction. These particles, often dust or small rocks from comets and asteroids, burn up due to intense heat and air pressure.
They are often referred to as "shooting stars" for the way they travel across the sky fully ablaze.
From February through April, the appearance rate of meteors can increase by as much as 10 to 30 percent, especially around the weeks of the March equinox.
The exact cause is unknown. Some astronomers think the Earth passes through more large debris at this time of year, causing an uptick in fireball sightings.
