Midnight meteor streaks across Western skies

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By MIKE STARK - AP WRITER

Story Published: Nov 18, 2009 at 10:19 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2009 at 10:19 PM CDT

11/18/09

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Scientists are buzzing about a streaking
meteor that flashed across parts of the Western sky.

Seth Jarvis, director of the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake
City, says the meteor that flew by just after midnight Tuesday was
probably about the size of an oven and traveling at about 80,000
mph.

He says the fireball was likely visible from several
Intermountain West states.

The fireball roughly coincided with the annual Leonid meteor
shower.

Surveillance cameras, including some operated by the University
of Utah, captured the streaking meteor about 100 miles above the
Earth.

Jarvis says it likely broke up before reaching the ground.

Scientists will use video footage to get a better idea about the
fireball's trajectory, speed and location.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APNP-11-18-09 1427MST<

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