Bright green fireball captured on video in Pacific Northwest sky as another meteor streaks across U.S.
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Jason Jenkins captured a bright green fireball streaking across the sky on his dashboard camera at 6:06 a.m. near southwestern Washington state, about 20 miles north of Portland, Oregon.
- The fireball, caused by a meteor burning up in the atmosphere, was notably bright due to magnesium and nickel, which emit green light when vaporized.
- Similar fireball events have been reported recently across the U.S., including a large meteor over Ohio and another breaking apart near Houston, with some fragments reaching the ground.
- Experts note that while fireballs are often visible, it is rare for meteor fragments to survive and be found on Earth, and increased camera usage has led to more frequent sightings.
- Jenkins expressed excitement over capturing the event on his dashcam, highlighting the unexpected benefits of such devices beyond accident recording.
