(WWJ) Did you see the sky light up?
The American Meteor Society (AMS) said they received 57 reports of an apparent 'fireball' seen over Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Ontario between 11:35 and 11:47 p.m. Friday.
In their reports to the AMS, Anna S. In Sterling Heights, at 11:35, said it was "very gorgeous, and very bright, like extremely bright."
Justin S. in Utica, said: "It was cloudy, and I could see it through the clouds."
Brandy, in Niles at 11:45, reported it "looked like it was falling behind the clouds but there was no cloud cover."
Ryan in Mount Pleasant called it "absolutely massive" while Jennifer R. in Southfield called it "spectacular!"
John H. in New Carlisle, Ohio wrote a detailed description of the phenomenon that he said lasted only three seconds at 11:38 p.m: "I was finishing the barn chores and it lit up the sky like it was day. It was a cloudy night so it lit up the clouds. It was bright white with a blue halo and then it just disappeared."
He also reported he heard a "boom" or a "rumble" five minutes afterward, but was unsure if it was related.
Across the 57 reports, the witnesses described the 'fireball' as various colors. Some called it blue; others white, green or light green.
The reports in Michigan came from more than a dozen communities all over the Southeastern, Southwestern, and Central parts of the state. Here in Metro Detroit they included Southfield, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Beverly Hills, Troy, Livonia and more.
NASA describes a meteor as "bits of rock and ice ejected from comets as they move in their orbits about the sun." A fireball is categorized as a meteor that's brighter than the planet Venus.
If you spotted the 'fireball,' please send us your pictures at wwjnewsroom@audacy.com.
