Meteor Fireball Lights Up Night Sky in Oregon, Captured by Hundreds on Social Media
ICARO Media Group
Portland, Oregon – Late on Monday night, Portland residents and Oregonians had the rare opportunity to witness a spectacular meteor fireball lighting up the night sky. The event was well-documented with hundreds of comments, posts, and videos flooding social media platforms. As described in multiple posts on Reddit, Facebook, and Twitter, the fireball, visible for about five seconds, appeared to the south of the Portland metro area. Witness accounts noted the fireball's striking green color, with some mentioning a yellow tail accompanying its trajectory.
The American Meteor Society's website became inundated with over 130 reports of the luminous fireball streaking across the sky between 10:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. Most sightings were concentrated in cities and towns across the western region of Oregon, but reports also emerged from locations as distant as Bellingham to the north, Sacramento to the south, and Boise to the east. From the various observations, the American Meteor Society approximated that the meteor traversed a northwestern path, entering visibility as it soared over the Umpqua National Forest, positioned about halfway between Eugene and Klamath Falls. However, it is important to note that the data gathered is crowdsourced and has not undergone independent verification.
Social media users feverishly shared their experiences, with many expressing awe and excitement at the unexpected celestial display. Videos capturing the meteor's descent swiftly circulated online, offering a glimpse to those who may have missed the event firsthand. The luminous spectacle added a touch of wonder to the night, uniting communities across Oregon in shared awe at the natural marvel.