Southwest Florida residents awed by rare fireball meteor sighting

CAPE CORAL, Fla. - If you glanced up at the sky last night, you might have witnessed something spectacular. A bright fireball meteor lit up the night sky across Southwest Florida.

People from the Keys to Georgia reported seeing the meteor, with some even capturing it on camera. Cape Coral resident Josh Boyd said, "It was a huge fireball, so then I thought maybe it was a plane crash or something else but it wasn't so I guess it's a meteor."

The meteor's brightness was so intense that it appeared on doorbell cameras in Cape Coral before disappearing.

Mike Plainte, also from Cape Coral, said, "The color alone. So, you know, I've seen a couple of things, you know, across the sky, but nothing that green and that lit up their surroundings that much. I mean it, my whole backyard was lit up."

According to the American Meteor Society, we're currently in "fireball month," a time when Earth passes through space debris that can create bright meteors like this one.

More than 80 people from Florida to Georgia reported seeing it, though only a few captured it on camera.

For those who caught a glimpse, it was an unforgettable moment.

Joshua said, "When I say that it was the most intense feeling of goosebumps ever that would be an understatement and it was beautiful."

The American Meteor Society advises that the best chance to spot a fireball is on clear nights just after sunset, especially when facing west. Keep your eyes on the sky, as fireball month isn't over yet.