A bright fireball streaked across the night sky over the state of New Jersey early Wednesday, marking the latest natural phenomenon in the area following a recent solar eclipse and an earthquake last week.
The fireball, believed to be a meteor or falling star, was captured on video illuminating the dark sky in multiple towns across New Jersey. The American Meteor Society received reports of dozens of sightings around 3:45 a.m., with observations logged across the Garden State as well as in parts of Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Footage from a doorbell camera, shot by Michelle Griffith in Millville, New Jersey, shows the moment the flash of light brightened the sky. Witnesses described seeing a bright green flashing ball falling from the sky, with one person in Wall Township sharing security footage of the same event.
Speculation arose as to the nature of the fireball, with some suggesting it was a meteorite due to its iron magnesium and nickel content. The sightings occurred just days before the upcoming Lyrids Meteor Shower that is set to commence later in April, one of the oldest known meteor showers observed for over 2,700 years, shedding dust particles from Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.
The fireball sighting followed a solar eclipse with over 90% coverage in certain areas of New Jersey on Monday. Last Friday, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, close to New York City and Philadelphia. Meanwhile, in California, spectators were treated to a display of bright fiery lights streaking across the night sky, later revealed to be the result of the re-entry of the Chinese Shenzhou 15 Orbital Module rocket near Los Angeles.
Overall, New Jersey residents were left awestruck by the celestial event, adding to an eventful week of natural occurrences in the region. The sightings of the fireball serve as a prelude to the upcoming meteor shower and showcase the beauty and wonder of the night sky.