Hundreds of eyewitnesses in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma report seeing a very bright fireball. Analysis of their reports, combined with information obtained from a couple of videos from public/amateur cameras, shows that the meteor was first seen 48 miles above Texas Highway 11, between Sulphur Springs and Winnsboro. Moving northeast at 30,000 miles per hour, it travelled 59 miles through the upper atmosphere before fragmenting 27 miles above U.S. 82 , east of Avery. The fireball was at least as bright as a quarter Moon, which translates to something bigger than 6 inches in diameter with a weight of 10 pounds. The slow speed (for a meteor) suggests an asteroidal origin.
Event ID | 20210726-015800 |
Date (UTC) | July 26, 2021 |
Time (UTC) | 01:58:00 |
AMS Event | 4002-2021 |
Size | 6 inch diameter |
Origin | Asteroidal |
Chicken Little Start Lat/Lon | +33.054, -95.472 |
Chicken Little End Lat/Lon | +33.527, -94.700 |
Chicken Little Altitude | 76.9 km → 44.1 km ( 47.8 miles→ 27.4 miles) |
Chicken Little Speed | 13.5 km/s (30,300 mph) |