Fireball streaks through sky Sunday; Taurid meteor shower peaks this week

A bright Taurid fireball recorded by the NASA All Sky Fireball Network station in Tullahoma, Tennessee in 2014.

The American Meteor Society received more than a dozen reports of a bright fireball streaking across the sky along the East Coast Sunday evening.

The meteor was seen about 7:40 p.m. from New York to North Carolina, with several reports from the Outer Banks.

The fireball (another term for a very bright meteor), is likely part of the annual Northern Taurid meteor shower, which peaks this week.

Every year from September to November, the Earth passes through a broad stream of debris left by Comet Encke, according to NASA.

“The dust associated with the comet hits the Earth’s atmosphere at 65,000 mph and burns up, creating the Taurid meteor shower,” the agency said on its website.

Sunday night’s fireball was described as low and bright, moving east to west, and of varying colors from red to blue to white.

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Kari Pugh is digital director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, 94.5 WCMS and News Talk 92.3 WZPR. Reach her at kpugh@jammediallc.com