Suburban officer's dashcam captures suspected meteor streaking across sky

Elmhurst police believe an officer caught an incredible look at a meteor streaking through the night sky on dashcam video last weekend.

In newly released footage, the Elmhurst Police Department said Officer Jacob Wiegele was working the night shift when he saw something trailing through the sky.

“Our officers see a lot of unusual things on the night shift but this is unique…” the department wrote.

The unexpected bright object was seen around 5 a.m. Saturday as Wiegele patrolled Illinois Route 83 from St. Charles Road.

Wiegele quickly activated his dash camera “just in time” and recorded “the object’s descent,” the department said.

“Just a cool reminder that police officers witness a lot while most of us are sleeping!” the department posted on social media.

While it’s not certain what exactly the object is, the department believes it to be a meteor. That timing lines up with just after the peak of the Orionid meteor shower, widely considered one of the most spectacular of the year.

The specific shower occurs when Earth travels through debris trailing behind Halley’s Comet, and the debris burns up in the atmosphere, according to NASA.

 The shower began on Oct. 2 and is expected to remain active until Nov. 7.

from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/c8q3EfQ