An apparent meteor brightened the night sky over St. Louis, Missouri, and many people reported having felt and heard a loud ‘boom’ when it happened.
The National Weather Service posted a video of the flashing streak of light Monday night with homes in the background. It was captured by a volunteer storm spotter in the suburb of O’Fallon.
Other videos posted on social media showed the Gateway Arch in the background.
KSDK-TV Meteorologist Scott Connell said the odds of finding part of the apparent meteor are slim, because it most likely completely burned up.
The American Meteor Society says it has received over 120 reports from eight states from people who say they spotted the streaking meteor on Monday night. Most sightings were reported in Missouri, but people in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Wisconsin have also registered sightings with the scientific society.
The meteor appeared to be a fireball, an especially vibrant meteor that appears brighter than the planet Venus in the sky, the American Meteor Society said.
Its estimated trajectory was from East to West, ending its visible flight in North Carolina.
The meteor could possibly have been debris from Comet 2P/Encke that passes earth each year.
It’s called the “Southern Taurids meteor shower” that reached its peak last night. South Taurid meteor showers are usually among the weakest of the showers, averaging five meteors an hour. In some years, though, it can put on a spectacular show.
The Associated Press and CNN Wire contributed to this report.
