Great ball of greenish-blue fire?! Did Airdrie residents catch a glimpse of it in the sky?

Locals who are early risers - whether out of necessity or want - appeared to have caught a glimpse of what some are reporting to be a meteor in the sky earlier this week on Wednesday at approximately 6:34 a.m.

Social media was flooded with video clips of the event, and our southerly neighbours also saw the brilliant green streak of light. Other social media users in British Columbia and Edmonton were also treated to the surprise in the sky. 

Meteor spotted from Edmonton and Calgary over Alberta early this morning 😳 ☄️ pic.twitter.com/gchY4NLNRm

— Made In Canada (@MadelnCanada) November 13, 2024

How cool is this!!!!

Our Jackrabbit camera caught last nights meteor. @GlobalCalgary pic.twitter.com/TwEBjfKUwj

— Sunshine Village (@SunshineVillage) February 19, 2020

HUGE Meteor (W. Montana all the way to S.W. Alberta - that's a long way, but not for a fast moving meteor!) https://t.co/CBse9MIBIJ

— MT4th (@cynthia_hert) November 13, 2024

So, was it a shooting star, a meteor, a meteorite, or something else altogether? According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), meteors are shooting stars and occur when these meteoroids enter a planet’s atmosphere and burn up due to high speed, creating a streak of light. Brighter meteors are called "fireballs." Around 48.5 tons of meteoritic material falls to Earth daily

Meteor Showers happen when Earth passes through debris left by comets, leading to increased meteor activity. These showers are named after the constellation from which they seem to radiate; several are currently active.

Upcoming Meteor Showers (Late 2024 - Early 2025):

• Orionids (Active until Nov 22, 2024)

  • Peak: Oct 20-21, 2024 (83 per cent full moon)
  • Details: 10-20 meteors/hour. In some years, peak activity can reach 50-75/hour.

• Southern Taurids (Active until Dec 8, 2024)

  • Peak: Nov 4-5, 2024 (11 per cent full moon)
  • Details: Long-lasting shower with five meteors/hour, known for fireballs.

• Northern Taurids (Active until Dec 2, 2024)

  • Peak: Nov 11-12, 2024 (79 per cent full moon)
  • Details: Similar to Southern Taurids, producing occasional fireballs.

• Leonids (Active until Dec 2, 2024)

  • Peak: Nov 16-17, 2024 (98 per cent full moon)
  • Details: Historic for meteor storms, though not expected until 2099.

• Geminids (Dec 2-21, 2024)

  • Peak: Dec 12-13, 2024 (92 per cent full moon)
  • Details: The year’s strongest shower, visible before midnight with 150 meteors/hour.

The American Meteor Society advises monitoring the moon's phase, which can greatly impact meteor visibility. Darker skies offer the best chance to observe.

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