Shooting star in WM sky
October 10th, 2008 at 12:05 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog
A meteor (also called a “shooting star” or “falling star”) streaked across the West Michigan sky Thursday night at 9:17 PM. The meteor lasted approximately 2 seconds and was unusually bright. We had calls/emails from Kalamazoo, Sand Lake, Grand Rapids, Cedar Springs, Allegan, and Ottawa County. WGN reported that a number of viewers also saw the meteor in the Chicago area. Dave Swanson just got off duty from the Air Traffic Control Tower in Kalamazoo and he witnessed the meteor streaking across the northern sky moving from NW to NNE. The meteor was one of several that occurred during the evening of October 9. The meteors were part of the Draconid Meteor Shower, which was on Oct. 8-9. While not as impressive as the Perseid Meteor Shower in August, or the Geminid Meteor Shower in December, we can get an occasional spectacular meteor here in October. A meteoroid is a chunk of metallic or stony rock that enters the atmosphere. A meteor is the streak of light you see as the meteoroid becomes super-hot. Most meteoroids burn up completely in the Earth’s atmosphere and don’t reach the ground. A meteorite is an actual piece of space debris that does make it to the ground. Click here for NASA’s discussion of meteors and meteorites. (image from Rob Wood – World Book)
Superman yet again! Boy, that guy sure gets around, lol!!
Well I was in Cedar Springs and I missed it. I was outside last night around 9PM too…
I saw it! – right about the Dorr exit on US-131
Didn’t see that one (too far away, I live in Central Illinois). But I was on my way home last night around 9:10 Central time and saw another flash in the sky.
I wish I have seen it. Off the subject, Accuweather is saying we could have rain and snow mixed on Oct. 24th. Maybe a early winter.
Reminds me of that one meteor two years ago. Everyone saw it too, and called 911, TV stations, etc. I’ve seen a few meteors while driving down M-46 in Montcalm Co. Haven’t seen the big ones that everyone else sees.
We saw it, too – Looking out our windows in West Chicago – it was so bright and seemed so low!
are there any salmon in the muskegon river?
Last night (well this morning) in between 12:15am and 12:30 am I was sitting on my front porch looking up into the sky staring at the stars. I looked down for a minute and looked back up. Right then I seen a light. The first second I witnessed it I thought it was a star. Not even half a second later I noticed it moving at a very fast pace. Faster than any kind of spacecraft that could be man made. It shot across the sky and only lasted no more than all of 2 seconds. Then it just disappeared as if it went back up into space. This freaked me out and I thought for a second that I witnessed something very strange like a UFO. Today when i was reluctant to tell anyone, I finally told my family and my counselor. My counselor told me that there were reports of a meteor of the sky witnessed by many people. At this point a felt relived that I wasn’t going to feel like a fool for what I saw. Then I came online to look this up and it said that it occured at around 9:00pm EDT. Which would make it impossible that I saw the same thing everyone else did. Not sure what I seen, but it was not man made (due to the fact that it shot across the sky in a matter of 2 seconds, and it disappeared), and it was not a shooting star. I guess I will have to go on the rest of my life wondering what I saw late last night/early this morning.
darn i missed it and as of snow/rain for the 24th i think im ready for it
I happened to be outside and saw the meteor, not being sure that it wasn’t a plane I called the local news service, then called 911.
I kept expecting to hear sirens, but, heard nothing. According to the police, I’m the only one in Battle Creek that reported it.
Thank God, it wasn’t a plane, also that it didn’t fall on someone.
It was awsome and huge.
I hope someone finds it, and we get to hear more about it.
Meteors like this happen all the time, and usually burn up before hitting the ground. Because it was seen over a wide area, there’s no way to ascertain (without reliable, verifiable measurements) where it “could” have landed.
Fireballs that bright are usually smaller than a basketball, and the rough ride through the atmosphere takes its toll on the object, causing it to break up in midair.
I saw it last night, and wasn’t that impressed. Now, when you see a fireball as bright as the nearly full moon – like about 20 years ago – now that’s impressive. And no, nothing was found of it either.
Something like this wouldn’t even make the news if people got out and took a look around more in the sky. On average, you can see six more more meteors each night.
I seen it and emailed Bill! I was watching TV and seen it out of the corner of my eye out of my window that faces north. I quickly turned to see it last a couple more seconds. It had an orange tail and it was awesome. Better than anything I have seen while watching past meteor showers. Seemed slower moving, almost like what it looks like as a firework is burning out and falling to the ground.
SJS- many meteors happen every night. I am sure that is what you seen. On any given starry night, I can see several within an hour usually while star gazing. This one has raised so much interest because of the intensity of it and the fact that it had coloration and a tail, not to mention it just seemed to last longer than usual. I would not be alarmed. If what you seen was not a meteor, it is most likely a satellite, as those are very fast moving as well
Hmm or was it the government testing a new plane as there have been strange noises in the clouds here in Allegan County. They have tested war planes in the past along the Lake Michigan.
I was driving north on M-37 just about to M-6 and I saw it shoot through the sky. I had seen a post of someone saying it was at 10:05pm so I thought hummm there must have been two of the shooting stars because I saw it around 9:17pm. Then I saw Kyle Underwood saying it was at 9:17pm, so it was the one that I saw. It was so bright and so unexpected all I could say was “COOL” as I was driving alone in my truck on my way to work. (third shift at steelcase)For once, I was glad I was on my way to work at that time LOL LOL
Saw a shooting star for about 2 seconds at 11:11 pm.
Tim, I saw the same shooting star at that time. I was facing south and it went from east to west. It seemed really bright and close. It was a blueish-white color.
Myself,sister and nephew were standing on thier patio and saw the meteor????? dropping out of the sky. Very soon after we heard police sirens then fire trucks, we live in downtown Middleville and we know somebody in the police dept. or fire dept. knows alot more than what has been said to the public. Wondering what really was IT?
It was Superman, I tell ya! (I’m up early this morning).
I saw it in Hastings. It was super huge and bright green when I saw it. I was elated. The big ones are rare!