Meteor may be only 1st drop in Lyrids shower

See flashing lights in the sky Friday night?

You might see more.

There were numerous reports of a meteor near the Air Force Academy around 11 p.m.

“It kept lasting and lasting and lasting,” said Jody Wolkensdorfer of northern Colorado Springs, who was driving in the area.

“All of a sudden, there was a big, green ball, and it changed to a red color and looked fiery. It seemed to shoot off some kinds of sparks and turned bright white. The sky lit up and then it went right into the mountains. It was frightening but at the same time amazing.”

No need to panic.

“It was a meteor breaking up in the atmosphere,” said Colorado Springs Astronomical Society spokesman Alan Gorski, who received calls about it Saturday.

“It’s just a rock from space.”

Clear skies Friday night made for a good show, one that might continue through Monday with a bonafide shower.

“Our weather folks on the base said there’s a meteor shower going on this weekend,” said Tim Jenkins, Air Force Academy spokesman.

According to spaceweather.com, every year in late April, Earth passes through the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher, and the encounter causes a northern hemisphere meteor shower, the Lyrids. This year, the shower peaks today and Monday. The best time to look is before dawn.

Observers in rural areas will see more, because there is less light interference. City dwellers generally see fewer.