A remarkably fast comet fragment disintegrated in a brilliant green fireball over the Great Lakes region early Sunday morning, captured on video by witnesses and confirmed by NASA. The event, observed across Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and as far away as Ohio, serves as a vivid reminder of the constant bombardment our planet faces from space debris.
Witness Accounts and First Reports
Dozens of people reported seeing the meteor streak across the sky at approximately 5:29 a.m. ET on November 23rd. Michigan Storm Chasers, a local weather and sky-watching group, obtained compelling footage of the object’s fiery descent, later shared on Facebook. The American Meteorological Society (AMS) received video submissions from multiple locations, including Coldwater and Tecumseh, Michigan, showcasing the event’s widespread visibility.
NASA Confirms Trajectory and Speed
NASA tracked the meteor’s path using witness reports and video analysis. The fragment entered the atmosphere 62 miles above Hubbard Lake, traveling at an astonishing 98,500 mph (160,000 km/h). It burned up along a 82-mile track before disintegrating 46 miles above Lake Huron. This high velocity is a key factor in the dramatic display.
Not Part of a Known Meteor Shower
Unlike the Leonid meteor shower, which currently peaks from November 6th to 30th, this event appears to be isolated. While Leonid meteors can reach speeds of up to 160,000 mph (260,000 km/h), this fragment was likely a single piece of debris shed from a comet. NASA clarified that it did not originate from an active meteor shower.
Why the Green Color?
The green hue observed in the fireball is attributed to the presence of metals like nickel in the vaporizing comet fragment. Faster meteoroids, in general, tend to produce more vivid colors due to increased friction and ionization of atmospheric gases. Sodium yields yellow fireballs, while magnesium creates blue-white trails. These colors provide clues about the meteoroid’s composition.
The event serves as a striking illustration of how frequently Earth is impacted by space debris, even if most burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere. While witnessing such events requires luck or dedicated sky-watching, the frequency of these encounters is constant.
