Bolide Spotted in the Washington Sky Ahead of Meteor Showers This Weekend

A magnificent burst of light soared across the sky of the United States, including Washington, this week. Around 10 p.m. on Thursday, the meteor was seen in Loudoun County, Alexandria, and sections of Maryland.

Over the Washington, D.C., region, a brilliant fireball also blazed through the heavens. Several witnesses reported the fireball on the American Meteorological Society website. Many folks used dashboard or doorbell cameras to capture the flash.

NASA Meteor Watch mentioned that the fireball became visible as it ascended approximately 52 miles over Stephens City, Virginia, shot northwest at a speed of roughly 46,000 mph, and finally dissipated about 32 miles above Frostburg, Maryland.

According to "a very preliminary solution" (per Inside Nova), the meteor began in Northern Virginia, west of Washington, at 9:56 p.m. and moved north into Pennsylvania at 62,000 mph.

Witnesses described the fireball as brilliant and ranging in color from green to white. A Pennsylvanian who saw it once described it as looking like a "glowing train, like it was on fire" in a report to the American Meteor Society. Others claimed the flame trailed green sparkles and sparkled at the end.

Bolide Spotted Across Washington, Nearby Areas a 'Prelude' to Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower

The fireball or large meteor also called bolide may have been a prelude to this weekend's peak of the Delta Aquariids meteor shower, The Washington Post reported.

According to People.com, "[T]he Aquariids are known for their persistent trains - meaning that they'll leave glowing ionized trails of gas in their path, glistening for a few seconds in their wake."

That would be consistent with the "huge," "slow," and "bright" fireball that witnesses saw on Thursday.

The Delta Aquariids meteor shower's peak will occur on July 29-30, 2022. The Northern Hemisphere may be able to see about 10 meteors every hour. Skywatcher Robert Lunsford suggests looking high in the western sky around 3 a.m. for the view.

The American Meteor Society states that the alpha Capricornid peak will occur on July 30 and 31, 2022. The Capricornids are known for their brilliant fireballs. However, they only produce three meteors each hour, according to AMS. About one in the morning, Lunsford advised looking high in the northern sky for the best possible view.

The Perseids meteor shower, which occurs from July 14 to Sept. 1, is also just beginning. The climax will not occur until Aug. 11 or Aug. 12.

If you want to identify any meteors you see, EarthSky provides a guide that can assist you.

We recently passed the new moon, which results in darker skies and brighter stars, so that's another wonderful incentive to go stargazing this weekend.

How To See Meteor Showers in the Washington Area?

It could be too gloomy to get a decent view in the Washington, D.C. region, NBC Washington reported.

According to Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper, if the sky will be clearer, there are higher chances to witness the meteor shower on Saturday.

You may take certain measures to improve your chances of seeing something. However, sometimes you just have to be fortunate when a really brilliant flash crosses the heavens.

Go to a dark region with minimal light pollution first. There are numerous locations in Virginia on the list of exceptional dark sky locations maintained by the International Dark Sky Places Program.

Then take a long, hard look at the heavens. It might take up to 30 minutes to adapt your eyes, according to NASA. It is also recommended to keep your eyes off the phone screen.

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.