People across parts of the northeastern United States and Canada were treated to a spectacular show after a meteor lit up the sky early Tuesday morning.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the American Meteor Society had received 330 reports of the event primarily from Maine, but also from Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ontario and Quebec.
The meteor was seen around 12:50 a.m. as it broke up in the sky.
READ MORE: Astro Corner: What’s up in the May sky
Meteors are pieces of dust and debris left over from the formation of our solar system. While most are tiny and cause small flashes in the sky, every so often a larger piece enters our atmosphere, burning up and illuminating the sky, sometimes far brighter than the moon. These types of meteors are referred to as bolides.
We are currently in the midst of a meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids. However, it is unclear as to whether or not the fireball was associated with it.
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