Watch: Fireball shoots across Arizona night sky amid Orionid meteor shower
KINGMAN, Ariz. - Video shot by the American Meteor Society showed a fireball streaking across the Arizona sky on Monday night.
The footage shows a clear, dark sky before a bright light shoots across the screen, burning up in a multicolored light show.
Many people reported seeing this in Arizona, Utah, California and Nevada. Some Kingman residents say they even heard a sonic boom.
The American Meteor Society says the fireball appeared at around 7 p.m. on Oct. 24.
Meteor activity is high right now due to the Orionid meteor shower, which occurs when the Earth passes through debris left behind from Hailey's Comet.
The Orionids have already peaked in activity, but stargazers can still see the light show through November 22.
These meteors are known for their brightness and speed, and can leave behind glowing "trains" in their path.
"Fast meteors can also sometimes become fireballs: Look for prolonged explosions of light when viewing the Orionid meteor shower," NASA officials said.
People looking for meteor
Experts believe the meteor seen streaking across the sky in Mohave County landed somewhere near the Arizona-Nevada border, and meteor hunters are working to find the meteor, and see what secrets it may hold.
"It’s a big desert, and a lot of ground to cover," said Robert Ward. who has been hunting meteorites since he was 13. ""It’s a pretty exciting phase of the hunt, because you could find something completely new."
Ward said he has travelled all over the world, recovering meteorites from every continent, except Antarctica. Most of the samples he finds go towards scientific research, while others go to his private collection, which is one of the largest recorded.
"It's a heck of an adventure," said Ward.
Ward uses several resources to narrow down a possible location, including doppler radars, information available online, and eyewitness accounts
.
"With the internet, and doorbell cameras and dash cams and security cameras are everywhere now, it's given us a lot more ability to record event, analyze events, triangulate events, and ultimately recover meteorites," said Ward.
Ward believes the meteor likely broke up into multiple pieces. He is expecting to find anything from 50 lbs to 150 lbs in weight.
"To get out there and find this rock that’s been orbiting the sun for 3.8 to 4.2 billion years, and it just arrived on Earth hours or days ago and you are the first person to pick it up is absolutely amazing," said Ward.
Ward says he searched roughly eight miles on Oct. 26, and will search up to 18 more miles on Oct. 27. He says he won’t stop until he finds it.
Viewing tips
NASA says that the Orionids are viewable in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres during the hours after midnight until dawn.
If you live in a big city, consider going to a state or national park that allows overnight camping. However, even if you can step outside wherever you live, let your eyes adjust to the darkness for a few minutes and then look up. This includes putting down your phone.
Experts recommend lying flat on your back with your feet facing southeast for those in the Northern Hemisphere and northeast for those in the Southern Hemisphere.
Learn more: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/orionids/in-depth/