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On This Day In Space: Aug. 10, 1972: ‘Great daylight fireball’ zooms over North America

On This Day In Space: Aug. 10, 1972: ‘Great daylight fireball’ zooms over North America_64d4ec8363efb.jpeg

On Aug. 10, 1972, an Earth-grazing fireball burst through the sky over North America. It didn’t hit the ground, but instead it passed straight through the sky.  

Dashcam image of a daytime fireball streaking through the sky above Toronto.  (Image credit: wDavid Narciso)

The fireball entered the atmosphere somewhere over Utah and passed northwards, leaving the atmosphere over Alberta, Canada about 100 seconds later. 

Analysis of its trajectory showed the object was about 10 to 45 feet in diameter, depending on whether it was an icy comet or a denser, rocky asteroid.

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