Huge fireball in North Texas sky was meteor, FAA confirms

11:30 p.m. update:

A reader in Shattuck, Okla., near where the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma touch, said the meteor "is likely the largest and brightest I have observed in all my 63 years." The man, who asked that his name not be used, also said one of the photos published earlier in my blog may not be a geniune image taken tonight, but instead could be an archived image. I'm currently looking into that and will remove the image if it appears to be either a fake or otherwise misleading image. (Image was removed.) The reader from Shattuck, Okla., said he didn't hear a sound from his vantage in Oklahoma but when the object caught his attention it was due south of Shattuck and moving east-southeast "somewhat above the southern horizon."

"It moved very fast when you consider how distant it must have been from my position," he wrote in an email. However, the man's view was then briefly blocked by trees, and he was not able to follow it to the point where he could conclude it had extinguished. He described the arc as perhaps 75 to 90 degrees and "would have believed it if someone suggested it was 120 degrees or more." 

11 p.m. update:

Here is some police dashboard video from Little River-Academy in Central Texas that appears to show a meteor streaking across the sky. This video is from NBCDFW.com

@gdickson 

 

10:45 p.m. update:

"I saw it over Little Elm. It was too fast to get a picture, but when I saw it, it looked like a giant firework sparkler, with lots of sparks coming off.  The tail was much more broad an less long when I saw it."

- from a reader identified as A Facebook User.

10:40 p.m. update:

An image from Tully Hannah of Bridgeport, via WFAA

Social media and online websites are on fire with reports that a massive fireball streaked across the North Texas/Oklahoma sky after 8 p.m. Wednesday. The FAA has confirmed it was a meteor. Below is an image from "The Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News," also known as lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com ... If you have video or a still shot of this object -- or even audio that you think contains the sonic boom that reportedly was heard across North Texas approximately 8:18 p.m. tonight -- please send a note to gdickson@star-telegram.com. I'll do my best to post your material here ...

@gdickson

Comments

[A Facebook User]

I saw it over Little Elm. It was too fast to get a picture, but when I saw it, it looked like a giant firework sparkler, with lots of sparks coming off. The tail was much more broad an less long when I saw it

[safe on line games]

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[d.w.]

I saw it from my highrise balcony in central houston

[Glenn]

I was in fort worth when I saw it right above me like only couple hundred feet above. It was a blueish green I could hear it wizzing by, and the popping sound from the hot fire.... it was amazing!! Once in a life time...