Numerous eyewitnesses in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana filed reports with the American Meteor Society of a bright fireball seen at 8:42 PM Central Standard Time on February 8, 2022 (2022 February 9 2:42 UTC). An analysis of the reports, constrained by data from two publicly accessible cameras in the area, indicates that the meteor first became visible at an altitude of 51 miles above the Texas town of Hico, moving slightly north of west at 25,000 miles per hour. It ablated 23 miles above Wilson, after having traveled a distance of 15 miles through the atmosphere. The speed and brightness of the meteor suggest it was caused by an asteroid fragment approximately 6 inches diameter, weighing around 10 pounds.
Event ID | 20220209-024244 |
Date (UTC) | Feb. 9, 2022 |
Time (UTC) | 02:42:44 |
AMS Event | 966-2022 |
Size | 6 in or 10 lbs |
Origin | asteroidal |
NASA Camera Start Lat/Lon | +31.925, -97.982 |
NASA Camera End Lat/Lon | +31.959, -98.224 |
NASA Camera Altitude | 82.4 km → 36.9 km ( 51.2 miles→ 22.9 miles) |
NASA Camera Speed | 11.0 km/s (24,600 mph) |