There's still no evidence that the meteor that streaked across Montana on Tuesday morning has landed.
Scientists at the University of Washington say the meteor disintegrated in the sky while some witnesses have reported seeing the meteor hit the ground southwest of Ritzville in Washington State.
Scientists used readings from instruments in the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network as a basis to say that the meteoroid disintegrated above the Blue Mountains, about 25 miles north of Lagrande, Oregon, at an altitude of about 19 miles.
(from February 20, 2008)
Eyewitnesses from Montana to Washington State report seeing a fireball streak across the sky early Tuesday morning. Some callers described the phenomenon as bright blue in color, and scientists have confirmed that it was a meteor.
A private pilot reported seeing the meteorite hit the Earth in a burst of light 90 miles southwest of Spokane in Adams County, at about 6:45 a.m. Mountain time. However, sheriff's dispatchers said they had no reports of damage, injury or a meteor landing in the area.
A number of pilots reported seeing the meteor streaking through the sky from Boise, Idaho, into Washington state. We talked with the National Weather Service office in Missoula and they tell us that nothing showed up on their radar Tuesday morning, but they received calls of the incident. They say from initial appearances it looks like a meteor crossed the area.
We headed up to Montana State University to find out how people over such a large area could be able to see such a sight.
Witnesses saw an extremely large, rogue, and rare meteor and experts believe this type of event only happens every 30 to 100 years.
MSU Physics Department head, Professor Bill Hiscock says Tuesday's meteor appears to have been the size of a microwave oven, which is an oversized version of most meteors.
While it may sound small to some, how could people all over the Pacific Northwest spot a flying microwave? Just imagine a microwave traveling at 20,000 mph, 50 miles up in the sky.
Meanwhile, our email in boxes were full Tuesday morning from the lucky eyewitnesses who saw the meteor. This email is from Leslie Hottinger, who said "My husband and I saw this meteor as we were getting on the freeway approximately 6:35 from the Bonner exit. It was huge!!! It was blue-green in color with a trial of red orange behind it. What a sight!!!"
This email was sent from a viewer in Hamilton: "My girlfriend and I were doing our 6:00 a.m. 6 mile walk up Blodgett Canyon in Hamilton. Sometime after 6:30 a.m. as we were cresting the hill on Blodgett Canyon Road we saw the meteor fall. It was a brilliant orange and very very large and much slower moving than a shooting star. It was so large and fiery and awesome, it literally took our breath away."
Did you see this morning's meteor or have a picture? Click here to email your account or pictures.
The Associated Press is reporting that the meteor that streaked across Montana early Tuesday morning landed in eastern Washington.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman in Seattle says a Horizon Airlines pilot say the meteorite hit at around 6:45 a.m. near State Route 26 and Lind-Hatton Road in the southeast corner of Adams County. (click here for map)
There have been no reports of damage and sheriff's dispatchers say they aren't aware of any meteorite landing in the area.
Did you see this morning's meteor or have a picture? Click here to email your account or pictures.
Authorities say they have been inundated with calls from Kalispell, Plains, Missoula, Hot Springs, the Bitterroot Valley and Spokane, Washington of a bright light in the sky Tuesday morning. Callers described the phenomenon as bright blue in color.
Meanwhile, a Federal Aviation Administration duty officer in Seattle confirms that the streaking light in the sky was a meteor.
The officer, who would not give his name, told The Associated Press that it was seen by pilots from Boise, Idaho, westward well into Washington state.
Montana's News Station also received reports of a fire ball that lit up the sky in western Montana at around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Reports have come in from Victor to Ninemile and several people in the Blue Mountain area in Missoula have reported seeing the spectacle.
Viewers have called in to report seeing the sky light up from Ronan to between Billings and Livingston.
We talked with the National Weather Service office in Missoula and they tell us that nothing showed up on their radar Tuesday morning, but they received calls of the incident. They say from initial appearances it looks like a meteor crossed the area.
We'll have more on this story as information becomes available.
- Mark Thorsell reporting from KPAX in Missoula with information from the Associated Press
