2 Meteorite Hits on Earth Reported
At least two sightings of meteors that appeared to hit the Earth were reported in California early Wednesday, officials said.
The sightings are related to the annual Perseid meteor shower, which peaked about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Meteors, often called falling stars or shooting stars, are the result of dust left over from a comet.
About 12:30 a.m., three fishing vessels reported seeing a meteor about 15 miles off Point Arena that appeared to land in the ocean, according to Alan Walters, a spokesman with the Coast Guard at Humboldt Bay.
About 2 a.m., the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department investigated one reported impact in the northern part of the county but deputies could not find any evidence, said Sgt. Joe Anzini.
The Perseid meteor shower is the remnants of the Swift-Tuttle comet, which appeared in 1862. The “falling-star” effect is caused by dust that collides with Earth’s atmosphere, heats up and creates a shining trail of vapors. The particles are as tiny as a grain of sand.
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