Over 100 people in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia have reported seeing a bright fireball" on Saturday night, according to NASA and the American Meteor Society.
The sighting makes it the third sighting in Washington in March.
According to NASA, analysis of these reports and videos suggest the fireball became visible around 50 miles above the town of Wilkeson before disintegrating 30 miles above Wauna in Pierce County around 8:34 p.m.
The meteor, which is not part of any active meteor shower, managed to travel 43 miles northwest through the Earth's atmosphere at 39,000 mph, NASA said.
However, there is nothing to fear.
While it may seem like there has been an increase in fireballs lighting up the sky, February through April is considered "peak fireball season in the Northern Hemisphere, with sightings increasing as much as 10% to 30% and especially around the weeks of the March equinox (which was March 20), according to NASA.
While the exact reason is not known, some astronomers believe the Earth passes through more large debris this time of year. It is also possible that sighting have increased following greater adoption of smartphones, doorbell and dashboard cameras.
Fireballs are meteors that shine brightly and are usually caused by particles that are larger than typical meteors, according to NASA. When they travel through the atmosphere at high speeds, it superheats the air around it into a glowing plasma, resulting in a fireball.
Information from Seattle Times archives was used in this report.
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