Widespread reports of meteor sightings along the U.S. East Coast

There have been widespread reports of a meteor streaking across the evening sky along the U.S. East Coast.

NBC 4-TV reported the meteor sightings began coming in around 8 p.m. EDT Friday with people saying they saw what appeared to be blue or green

The reports flooded social media including Twitter and Facebook with witnesses describing a large fireball that appeared white or green in color and moving from left to right. People as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Florida reported seeing the fireball.

Donald Yeomans, manager of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program in Pasadena, Calif., said he’s aware of the reports and that they appear to be consistent with a meteor shower.

Yeomans said that he didn’t know the cause of the Friday night sightings. He said meteor showers are not that rare, but added “it’s unusual to have so many people see it.”

About 10 to 15 meteorites fall to Earth each day, but sightings are rare since streaking fireballs often fall over the ocean, or during daylight hours when they can’t be seen.

This latest sighting comes five weeks after a meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, injuring nearly 1,500 people and blowing out windows across the region.

Also February, meteors were reported over the Bay Area and in Florida.

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Source Article from http://www.examiner.com/article/widespread-reports-of-meteor-sightings-along-the-u-s-east-coast

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