© 2024
NPR for Northern Colorado
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Meteor Explodes Over Southern Wyoming, Visible In Colorado

Dean Souglass
/
Creative Commons/Flickr

A month ago we reported on a fireball sighting over northern Colorado. Now there are reports a meteor exploded in the sky above southern Wyoming Sunday.

The American Meteor Society says the event occurred about 10:45 p.m. and could be seen from as far as 400 miles away. Eight witnesses reported the sight, including Jordan Dowers, who was driving through Laramie.

"The first thing we noticed is the sky lit up really bright," Dowers told the Casper Star-Tribune. "From the south, it was neon blue. It looked like it was going to hit the ground. Then it just disappeared."

Sounds a lot like what KUNC listener Shawn Kraft reported in the early morning hours of March 28. That one was green or teal instead of blue (which may give a clue as to the fireball’s composition).

Two fireballs occurring in a six-week time span seems bizarre – so we were surprised to learn that this time of year is actually considered 'fireball season.'

During the spring months, bright meteors appear more frequently than usual. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why, although one hypothesis is that Earth’s orbit is littered with more space debris, such as fragments from comets and asteroids.

Not to worry you, but more than 34,500 meteorites have collided with the Earth since the dawn of history. Check out this amazing visualization here.

Of those collisions, only 1,042 have actually been witnessed by humans. So don’t panic… but do keep your eyes on the sky.

As the host of KUNC’s new program and podcast In the NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.
Related Content