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Fireball Lights Up East Coast Sky, Captivating Hundreds Across NY

A bright fireball streaked across the East Coast on Monday, Nov. 11, catching the attention of hundreds of people from Connecticut to Virginia (did you see it? Send footage to clevine@dailyvoice.com).

A meteor during the peak of the 2009 Leonid Meteor Shower (file photo).

A meteor during the peak of the 2009 Leonid Meteor Shower (file photo).

Photo Credit: Navicore

The American Meteor Society reported that 236 people witnessed the fireball around 7:48 p.m., with sightings spanning 13 states, the District of Columbia, and Ontario, Canada (click here for the sightings map).

Witnesses described the fireball as a striking light blue or green that illuminated the sky for four to seven seconds, moving diagonally from the upper right to the lower left.

The event was captured on multiple cameras, including one from a traffic cam on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, provided by SafetyVid.com, and another from a STATter911 camera overlooking the Pentagon in Arlington, VA.

According to the American Meteor Society, sightings were reported across Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, with some viewers describing the fireball as a brilliant streak lighting up the sky.

The American Meteor Society says that November is a peak time for meteor showers, with the Northern Taurids active from Oct. 20 to Dec. 10. Known for producing bright fireballs, the Taurid shower stems from debris left by Comet Encke and often results in slow, dramatic meteors that are visible across much of the Northern Hemisphere.

The Northern Taurids reach their peak around November 11 and 12 each year, coinciding with optimal viewing conditions as the moon is in a favorable phase. The American Meteor Society notes that while the Taurids don't bring high meteor counts, their fireballs are particularly eye-catching, making this shower a favorite for casual and seasoned skywatchers alike.

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