SKY Β· FIREBALLS & REENTRIES Β· USA

Did You See a Fireball Over Salt Lake City?

If a brilliant streak just crossed the sky over Salt Lake City, it was almost certainly one of two things β€” a natural meteor (a fireball, gone in seconds) or a human-made object falling back to Earth (a reentry, slower and often breaking apart). Here's what's recently been recorded near Salt Lake Cityand what's predicted to come down soon, plus how to tell which you saw.

FIREBALL vs REENTRY Β· SALT LAKE CITY
A meteor lasts1–5 seconds
A reentry laststens of seconds
Your latitude40.8Β°
Fragments?reentry, often

A single fast flash = meteor; a slow, drawn-out glow with several pieces = a reentry.

From Salt Lake City, at around 41Β° latitude, only objects on orbits inclined at least that much can pass over you β€” so the reentry watch list below is filtered to the ones whose ground track can actually reach you.

What's recorded near Salt Lake City β€” and what's coming down

Computed for Salt Lake City: the bright fireballs recently logged nearest you, and the objects predicted to reenter whose orbit can cross your latitude. For your exact spot you can also use your precise location β€” it never leaves your device.

WAS IT A METEOR OR A FALLING SATELLITE?

Checking the sky record…

Reading the live reentry watch list and the recent fireball record near you.

Salt Lake City right now

If what you saw is still up there and moving steadily, the identifier and tonight's bright passes will name it.

More sky over Salt Lake City

SEE IT ON THE MAP

Watch satellites and decaying objects move across the live globe.

Open the live satellites layer β†’