• A bright, colorful fireball was seen over Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and other western states on May 3, 2025, with reports coming from as far as Canada and Colorado.
• The meteor, possibly part of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower, displayed a range of colors due to the burning of various minerals like iron, nickel, magnesium, and copper.
• Experts suggest that fragments of the meteor may have landed in Wyoming or Idaho, but the chances of finding them are low due to the terrain.

On Saturday night, May 3, 2025, a brilliant fireball meteor captivated observers across numerous Western states, including Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho. The meteor, described as a 'once-in-a-decade' event by some, was witnessed as far north as Canada and as far south as Colorado. The event triggered widespread reporting to the American Meteor Society (AMS), leading to efforts to determine the meteor's trajectory and potential landing sites. The meteor's vibrant colors, attributed to the combustion of various minerals, added to the spectacle, sparking considerable interest and speculation among the public.

• What: A large, bright, and colorful fireball meteor entered Earth's atmosphere, visible across several Western US states.
• Who: Reported by numerous eyewitnesses, captured on various cameras (dashcams, security cameras), and analyzed by experts from NASA, the American Meteor Society, and universities.
• When: Saturday night, May 3, 2025, around 9:20 PM Mountain Time.
• Where: Observed over Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, and potentially as far as Canada and the Pacific Coast. The meteor's trajectory was estimated to have entered over Yellowstone National Park.

The fireball event generated significant interest due to its brightness, widespread visibility, and vibrant colors. The consensus among experts is that the colors resulted from the burning of various minerals within the meteor. The multiple sources highlight the importance of citizen science, as the numerous reports and camera footage contributed to a better understanding of the event. The Cowboy State Daily provides the most comprehensive analysis, including expert opinions and details about the meteor's potential trajectory and composition. While some reports speculated about a meteorite impact, experts suggest that finding any surviving fragments would be challenging.

This one was really, really special.

What they're seeing is what's called a fireball, and the fireball is a shooting star, but a really, really big one.

The colors indicate that there were strong concentrations of elements, probably iron and nickel, and maybe manganese and copper.

The May 3, 2025, fireball captivated observers across the Western United States, prompting widespread interest and data collection efforts. While speculation about meteorite landings arose, the scientific community is focused on analyzing eyewitness accounts and camera recordings to understand the meteoroid's trajectory and composition. This event underscores the significance of continuous meteor observation and the valuable role of citizen scientists. Skywatchers can anticipate further celestial events with the Eta Aquariids meteor shower, predicted to peak on the mornings of May 5 and 6, potentially offering enhanced viewing opportunities in dark, moonless skies before dawn. Though the Eta Aquariids may not match the intensity of the fireball, it presents a sustained display of meteors, originating from debris of Halley's Comet, offering a chance to observe up to 10-20 meteors per hour in the Northern Hemisphere and more in the Southern Hemisphere.