Fireball Lights Up the Montana Sky

Witnesses Report Seeing a Bright Explosion and Hearing a Loud Boom

Astronomers Believe the Object Was a Meteor or Small Asteroid

On Wednesday night, July 27, 2023, a fireball streaked across the sky over Montana, lighting up the night sky and causing a loud boom that shook buildings. Witnesses reported seeing a bright flash of light, followed by a trail of smoke or debris. Some people also reported hearing a loud explosion or sonic boom.

Astronomers at the University of Montana believe that the object was a meteor or small asteroid that entered the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated. Meteors are small pieces of rock or metal that originate from comets or asteroids. When they enter the Earth's atmosphere, they are heated by friction with the air, causing them to glow and produce a streak of light. Small asteroids are similar to meteors, but they are larger and can cause more damage if they impact the Earth.

The fireball was seen by people across Montana, including in the cities of Billings, Bozeman, and Helena. The American Meteor Society received over 100 reports of the fireball, and many people posted videos and photos of the event on social media.

Astronomers say that it is not uncommon for meteors to enter the Earth's atmosphere, but it is rare to see one as bright as the one that was seen over Montana. The fireball was estimated to be about the size of a car, and it is believed to have disintegrated about 20 miles above the ground.

There were no reports of any damage or injuries from the fireball. However, astronomers say that it is important to be aware of the potential dangers of meteors and asteroids. If a large meteor or asteroid were to impact the Earth, it could cause significant damage and loss of life.

NASA has a program in place to track and monitor near-Earth objects, such as meteors and asteroids. The program is designed to identify and track objects that could potentially impact the Earth, and to assess the risk of impact. NASA also has a plan in place to mitigate the effects of a potential impact, if one were to occur.