A large meteor gave St. Louis a light show for the ages Monday night.
Just before 9 p.m. local time, a large fireball lit up the sky above the city and surrounding areas. The National Weather Service later confirmed on Twitter the fireball was, in fact, a meteor.
Video shared on social media showed the fireball appearing over the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis, and KTVI-TV says it received reports of meteor sightings as far away as O'Fallon, Missouri — about 40 miles outside of town.
The American Meteor Society says it received reports as far away as Nevada and Wisconsin.
A meteor occurs when a particle from outer space — most likely a small asteroid — enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up upon entry.
According to the American Meteor Society, October, November and December are the peak months for the Taurid meteor shower — a meteor shower known for producing large fireballs. Though the shower isn't scheduled to peak again until 2022, the shower produces a few fireballs every year.
Meteor flying overhead from east to west in O'Fallon, MO this evening just west of St. Louis. #stlwx #mowx pic.twitter.com/0IX2fppoEd
— Tom Stolze (@ofallonweather) November 12, 2019
Our doorbell cam picked up the St. Louis #meteor! #stlwx #mowx #ilwx pic.twitter.com/RL6pLoRNEy
— Alan W. Black (@AlanGeog) November 12, 2019
WOW! Fireball seen this Monday night from St. Louis, Missouri. Video via @EarthCam #Fireball #Meteor #Space pic.twitter.com/U6gNGkv8eD
— Mark Tarello (@mark_tarello) November 12, 2019
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
