Meteor zooms down Florida sky - spectacular pic at link

What was that flying object?

Last Edited: Monday, 07 Jan 2008, 11:38 PM EST
Created: Monday, 07 Jan 2008, 11:38 PM EST

FOX 35 viewer, Alexandra Gregory captured these spectacular images of an object streaking through the sky on Tuesday, January 7, as seen from Poinciana. SideBar


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POINCIANA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- FOX 35 viewer, Alexandra Gregory captured these spectacular images of an object -- what appears to be a meteor -- streaking through the sky on Tuesday, January 7, as seen from Poinciana.

According to NASA, beginning each New Year and lasting for nearly a week, the Quadrantid Meteor Shower can be witnessed across the night sky for nearly all viewers around the world, though Monday's sighting in Central Florida has not been confirmed as being related this annual interstellar phenomenon.

The term meteor comes from the Greek meteoron, meaning phenomenon in the sky. Solarviews.com describes a meteor as a streak of light produced as matter in the solar system falls into Earth's atmosphere creating temporary incandescence resulting from atmospheric friction. This typically occurs at heights of 50 to 70 miles above Earth's surface. A meteorite is a meteoroid that reaches the surface of the Earth without being completely vaporized.

The International Meteorite Collectors Association offers extensive records which show occurrences of meteorites striking man-made objects, animals and even people! You can see a list of such events, including one reported strike in Orlando in 2004, by clicking here.


Sources: Solarviews.com; NASA

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