Fireball streaks across night sky in Edmonton, captured on security cam
Many residents claim they heard a loud bang afterwards
Social media was lit up early Sunday morning after video was posted online showing a fireball blazing across the skies over Edmonton Saturday evening.
Various doorbell and dash cameras show a bright, orange ball flying in the sky at close to 10:30 p.m. local time. Many residents then took to social media to claim they heard a loud bang afterwards, while others posted various footage of the possible meteor.
According to the Edmonton Journal, sightings were reported from a large area of north-central Alberta — from Wabamun, 70 kilometres west of Edmonton, all the way to Vilna, which is 150 kilometres northeast of the city.
Mike Hankey, operations manager for the American Meteor Society, told CBC the object appears be on the brighter end of the meteor spectrum, which ranges from fireball to bolide and super bolide.
"A bigger object that is brighter than the full moon. It's actually even brighter than that, almost as bright as the sun. So it explodes at the end of its flight, and oftentimes these events are associated with meteorites, which are rocks that survive from the fireball," said Hankey.
By mid-morning Sunday, it was reported that the society had received 69 reports, as well as two videos and pictures. Although meteorites have been found in Alberta after past events, Hankey said it's likely still too early to find pieces of last night's object.
To report a sighting of this or other possible meteors, click here.
Sources: CTV | Edmonton Journal | CBC
