Scientists search for meteor after reports of bright ‘fireball’ over the Salt Lake valley
May 5, 2025, 6:00 PM
The meteor spotted over the Salt Lake valley on Saturday May 3, 2025. (Nate West)
(Nate West)
SALT LAKE CITY — Scientists across Utah are searching for a meteor that fell over the Salt Lake valley Saturday night.
A dash camera from a KSL TV viewer captured the fireball as it went behind the mountains in Ogden.
“What we call that is a fireball,” said Jason Trump, the education programs supervisor at Clark Planetarium. “This had a green glow to it, and it traveled across Utah and a lot of people were able to see it in the Salt Lake valley area.”
🎥 Nate West
Trump said that scientists believe the fireball did fall somewhere near Ogden.
However, this might not be the only meteor gracing Utah’s skies. Trump said summer is one of the best times of the year to view meteor showers, with one peaking on Monday and Tuesday.
“Right now, we have a meteor shower that is going on. It’s the Eta Aquariid shower that will be peaking on the 5th and 6th of May,” Trump said.
There is also the Perseid shower, which will occur in August and will be the biggest one of the year.
“So you get the chance to catch this one at the beginning of the summer, and then the largest one in August,” Trump said.
People can learn more about meteors and meteor showers at the Clark Planetarium, which hosts monthly star parties.
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