Fireball Soars Across New Jersey’s Night Sky: Did You See It?

A few lucky New Jerseyans were in awe Wednesday night when a flashing fireball lit up the Garden State's sky.

Around midnight Wednesday, a fireball, or an exceptionally bright meteor, soared, catching the attention of residents throughout the state.

The International Meteor Organization received 113 reports from residents across 12 states who spotted the meteor, including in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. Ten of those reports were in New Jersey.

The meteor was spotted in the following New Jersey towns, according to the International Meteor Organization’s reports (one NJ report didn’t specify the town):

• Maurice River Township, Cumberland County
• Glassboro, Gloucester County
• Ocean Township, Monmouth County
• Wall Township, Monmouth County
• Riverdale, Morris County
• Rockaway, Morris County (spotted by two observers)
• Phillipsburg, Warren County
• Vernon Township, Sussex County

People saw the meteor for a varying amount of time, most seeing its glow for 1.5 to 3.5 seconds. The observer in Wall, however, says they saw the meteor shine for 7.5 seconds.

The main difference between a fireball meteor and a typical meteor, or shooting star, is its brightness. Fireballs typically shine as bright, if not brighter, than the planet Venus, according to experts.

Click here to see more images and videos of Wednesday night’s fireball.