A bright meteor fireball was spotted early Monday morning across parts of Oregon, with several residents and security cameras capturing the brief but striking event.
Observers across the Pacific Northwest reported seeing a vivid green flash in the sky around 6:06 a.m., according to Jim Todd from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Sightings were logged through the American Meteor Society’s fireball tracking system.
The National Weather Service office in Medford indicated that satellite data placed the flash approximately 50 to 75 miles above Lake County. Officials noted that due to the Earth’s curvature, the exact position may have been slightly different, likely over central parts of the county.
Experts explain that meteors are small space objects that burn up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere. A fireball occurs when a meteor becomes especially bright as it travels at high speed, typically visible at altitudes between 60 and 80 miles.
Todd said the green color often seen in such fireballs is usually caused by burning magnesium, although nickel can also produce a similar hue.
While no major meteor shower is currently active, recent weeks have seen several notable sightings. A large meteor recently broke apart over Ohio,, creating a visible fireball across multiple states, and another incident involved a meteorite reportedly crashing through the roof of a home.
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