Brilliant fireball lights up skies over Tennessee

[LazyHippo]

A meteor lit up the night sky over Tennessee and neighboring states late Sunday (June 7), sparking 120 fireball sightings across 12 different states and Canada. 

The fireball occurred at 9:42 p.m. EDT (0142 GMT) and blazed a trail over southern Ohio, according to a ground track by the American Meteor Society. It was visible for up to 3.5 seconds from as far south as South Carolina and as far north as Ontario, Canada, AMS reported.  

One witness video shows the fireball from Knoxville, Tennessee, as the meteor flares up in a dazzling streak and disappear seconds later.

 

A brilliant fireball lights up the night sky over Knoxville, Tennessee, in this cell phone video captured from a moving vehicle

by witness Austin R. at 9:42 p.m. EDT on June 7, 2020 (0142 GMT June 8). (Image credit: Austin R./Amsmeteors.org)

 

 

"Fireball caught over Knoxville, TN last night," AMS representatives wrote on Twitter alongside the video. "This fireball has been [seen] from IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV & Ontario!"

The video, which lasts about 2 seconds, was captured by witness Austin R. from a moving vehicle.

We're currently in between major meteor showers at the moment, with the Eta Aquarids of May behind us and August's Perseid meteor display still ahead. But there is still some general meteor activity to look out for.