Chinese Rocket Disintegrates Over East Texas

If you happened to be awake at 3:15am on Wednesday, perhaps you saw the streams of fire that streaked across the sky, and produced what looked like a cross between fireworks and a meteor shower as it moved away.

Dozens of people reported seeing it over East Texas and Louisiana, and the American Meteor Society has mapped it out and tells us exactly what witnesses saw.

Scientists say the steaks of fire were caused by the re-entry of a Chinese rocket, that disintegrated as it moved its way through the atmosphere.

KTRE reports on it too, and they say the light emitted by the fireball was brighter than a full moon.

It was a pretty quick light show - over within a minute or two.  The people who saw it and reported it not only accomplished the feat of being awake at 3am, but they were very observant too.

For stargazers, the American Meteor Society lists the peak times for possible meteor showers and other atmospheric phenomenon on its website.  They say their affiliates observe, monitor, collect data on, study, and report on meteors, meteor showers, fireballs, and related meteoric phenomena.  Anytime you see something, let them know!