On this day in space! Aug. 10, 1972: A 'Great Daylight Fireball' lights up the sky over North America
On Aug. 10, 1972, an Earth-grazing fireball burst through the sky over North America. Here's what happened.
On August 10, 1972, an extraordinary celestial event unfolded over North America - a Great Daylight Fireball. This event, a rarity in the skies, did not impact the Earth's surface but rather passed through the atmosphere, leaving a trail of awe in its wake. The fireball made its initial entry over Utah and continued its journey northwards, disappearing from view over Alberta, Canada, approximately 100 seconds later.
The object's size, estimated to be between 10 to 45 feet in diameter, depended on whether it was an icy comet or a denser, rocky asteroid. Unlike the typical meteor showers seen at night, which are dim and easily outshone by city lights or a full moon, a daytime fireball is a sight to behold. It is caused by a large, fast-moving object that can light up a sky brighter than a sunlit day.
If this 1972 event occurred today, it would have potentially captivated millions of witnesses across the United States and Canada, with the potential for an overwhelming flood of images and videos on social media.
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