Large fireball seen over New York and Utah in 1957

Summary

A bright luminous object, described as a blue-green fireball with a tail three times larger than the main body, was observed in Levittown, New York, and across parts of Utah on October 10, 1957. Witnesses described it as a meteorite that disintegrated in the sky, though initial speculation suggested it might be a Soviet rocket or a UFO. Military and civilian pilots reported the phenomenon, with some stating the object passed close to a Navy aircraft, forcing evasive maneuvers. Despite initial doubts, investigators concluded it was a meteorite, linked to the Giacobimides meteor shower. The Air Force sent a team to investigate the area where it was believed to have crashed, but no debris was found. The incident highlights the confusion and fear generated by unidentified objects during a period of international tension.