Suspected Meteor Streaks Brightly Across New Jersey Sky
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - People across New Jersey reported seeing a great flash traveling across the sky Tuesday night.
The American Meteor Society says it received hundreds of reports and the bright streak through the sky was most likely a meteor, reports CBSN New York's Meg Baker.
Several videos posted on social media and shared by the American Meteor Society show the spark of light traveling at a high rate of speed across the sky.
Last Night #Fireball over Delaware
— AMSMETEORS (@amsmeteors) April 17, 2019
- new video, now 360 reports -
Nice video by Kimberly B, Maryland
Details: https://t.co/KWsHgKRcEa pic.twitter.com/JcXvfG8Wol
"A meteor is the bright light in sky, so we had one of those last night – a very bright one, apparently bright enough to light up the ground like a flash of daylight," said physics and astronomy professor Carlton Pryor of Rutgers University.
The light was seen traveling north to south over Cape May. There were reports of the sighting in Delaware, Washington D.C. and as far as West Virginia.
Anyone else just see a big meteor over South Jersey?
— Tony Jewell (@TonyJewell) April 17, 2019
Thought we were all gonna be extinct. Who else saw that meteor in South Jersey
— Reda Kobeissi (@Redakobeissi) April 17, 2019
Huge #meteor visible from #DC at 10:57 pm. Retweet and/or DM me for more details. pic.twitter.com/2hTsJhVnj1
— Steve Chazin (@stevechazin) April 17, 2019
Pryor says northern New Jersey may not have seen the meteor due to cloud coverage.
He says the large meteor most likely split into tiny pieces that ended up in the ocean, and there was no danger to the public.