Large red fireball seen in Yakima

Summary

An airport tower operator in Yakima, Washington, reported a large red fireball on December 19, 1957. The object appeared suddenly as a bright red point, the size of the end of a pencil held at arm's length. It left vapor trails and exploded into a ball of smoke that lasted until sunset. The observation lasted only two seconds, but the smoke was visible for hours.

The Air Force concluded it was definitely a meteor, associated with the ongoing Geminid meteor shower. Additional witnesses in other parts of the Pacific Northwest also reported the event, supporting the astronomical explanation. Despite its unusual appearance, there were no signs of unidentified activity or unknown technology.