A bright fireball cut across the night sky over the Pacific Northwest early April 29, drawing more than 150 reports from people across Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
At least 151 sightings were logged after a large streak of light was spotted shortly after midnight, according to the American Meteor Society.
Based on eyewitness reports and video submissions, the meteor was determined to be traveling southwest at an estimated 66,000 miles per hour before breaking apart over the Pacific Ocean.
Earth will soon pass through the debris left behind by Halley’s Comet (shown), producing the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
Observers described a vivid display, with flashes of orange, blue and even green lighting up the sky as the object fragmented.
According to the Meteor Society, those colors are typically tied to the meteor’s chemical makeup and the way it interacts with Earth’s atmosphere at high altitude.
While the Lyrid meteor shower is still active through the end of April, this event was likely a sporadic meteor, which means it was not connected to any known meteor shower, said Jim Todd, OMSI’s director of space science education.
The American Meteor Society continues to collect reports and video from the event, helping researchers better understand the object’s path and composition.
Anyone who saw the event or has video footage is encouraged to submit it to American Meteor Society Fireball Log at fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/event/2026/3168.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Meteor streaks across Oregon and Washington skies