A massive flaming meteor shot into the sky over Lake Erie just after sunset on Monday (October 21), according to video.
See also: Watch the spectacular Perseid meteor shower
Witnesses in 10 states, stretching from Michigan to North Carolina, reported spotting the flaming meteor around 7 p.m. ET. So far, the American Meteor Society (AMS) has received 534 reports of the fiery space rock. Experts estimated the meteor's trajectory and determined that it likely burned up right on the shores of Lake Erie, Pennsylvania.
The fireball appeared at an altitude of about 80 kilometers, meaning it was visible in many US states and Canada, EarthSky reported. This meteor is one of the largest documented in recent months, according to the website.
Footage of the fireball was recorded by Brad Hague and Ryan Connor among other witnesses.
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It appears to have been a random event and unrelated to the current Taurid meteor shower. The Taurids peak from late October to mid-November and can produce several visible meteors per hour.
Monday's meteor streaked across the sky from west to east, first appearing in Lake County, Ohio. The meteor's estimated trajectory, mapped by AMS, shows it covered a distance of about 100 km over Lake Erie – the fourth-largest lake in North America by surface area.
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Flaming meteors are extremely bright space rocks that enter atmosphere . As they do, they burn up, creating a streak of light. Meteors appear daily around the world, but they are a rare sight to see because they fade quickly and are often camouflaged by daylight.
Source: livescience
