On February 6th, 2017, a massive fireball was seen in the skies over Illinois. The fireball, estimated to be approximately 10 feet in diameter, was reported by hundreds of eyewitnesses across several states. The National Weather Service confirmed that the fireball was indeed a meteor entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
The meteor was first spotted around 1:25 a.m. traveling at an estimated speed of 38,000 miles per hour. It entered the atmosphere over Lake Michigan and quickly disintegrated, causing a bright flash of light and a loud boom that could be heard for miles. The explosion from the meteor was so powerful that it registered as a 2.0 magnitude earthquake on seismographs in the area.
Despite the large size of the fireball, there were no reported injuries or damage on the ground. However, the event did cause a stir on social media, with many people sharing videos and photos of the meteor as it streaked across the sky.
This event serves as a reminder of the constant barrage of space debris that enters our atmosphere on a regular basis. Although most meteors burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, larger ones like the Illinois fireball can pose a potential threat to people and property on the ground. It’s important for scientists and researchers to continue studying these events in order to better understand the risks and potential impacts of these space objects.