6Pre-AdvancedExamScience

Spectacular Green Fireball Illuminates the Pacific Northwest Sky

A brilliant green meteor was recently captured on dashcam video as it streaked across the early morning sky near Portland, Oregon. Scientists explain that the green color results from magnesium and nickel burning in the atmosphere, and this event is part of a series of remarkable fireball sightings across the United States.

2 min readLevel 6March 26, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

spectacular

/spɛkˈtækjʊlər/

adjective

Extremely impressive or dramatic; beautiful in a striking way

“The sunset over the ocean was so spectacular that everyone stopped to take photographs.”

phenomenon

/fɪˈnɒmɪnən/

noun

An observable event or occurrence, especially one that is unusual or difficult to explain

“The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that attracts tourists from around the world.”

attributed

/əˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/

verb

Regarded as being caused by or resulting from something

“The rise in global temperatures is widely attributed to increased carbon emissions.”

disintegration

/dɪsˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃən/

noun

The process of breaking apart into smaller pieces or fragments

“The disintegration of the old building was caused by decades of neglect and weather damage.”

trajectory

/trəˈdʒɛktəri/

noun

The curved path that an object follows as it moves through space or air

“Engineers carefully calculated the trajectory of the spacecraft before its launch.”

prevalent

/ˈprɛvələnt/

adjective

Widespread or commonly occurring at a particular time or in a particular place

“Smartphones have become so prevalent that most people now carry one at all times.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

On March 24, 2026, a spectacular green fireball was observed over the Pacific Northwest. A driver named Jason Jenkins captured the event on his dashcam at 6:06 a.m. He had been driving through southwestern Washington state, approximately 20 miles north of Portland. The bright green streak initially led him to believe he was witnessing a comet. However, he soon concluded that the object was far too close for that.

According to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the phenomenon was classified as a fireball. A fireball is defined as a particularly bright meteor visible up to 80 miles above the Earth. The green color is attributed to the presence of magnesium within the meteor. When magnesium is heated and vaporized in the atmosphere, it emits a distinctive blue-green light. Nickel, another element sometimes found in meteors, can also contribute to the green hue.

This event was not an isolated occurrence in the United States. The previous week, a 7-ton meteor had sped across the Ohio sky before breaking apart. Its disintegration produced a thunderous boom that startled residents across multiple states. Additionally, a meteor traveling at 35,000 miles per hour broke apart north of Houston on Saturday. NASA confirmed that the Houston meteorite had originally weighed approximately one ton.

Jim Todd, the museum's director of space science education, noted the fireball's high altitude. Its position in the dark early morning sky had made it widely visible across the region. As dashcams and doorbell cameras have become increasingly prevalent, more celestial events are being documented. Scientists may now use the video footage to determine the fireball's trajectory. Such data could reveal whether any fragments reached the Earth's surface.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
At what time was the green fireball captured on the dashcam?
2
What causes the green color of certain fireballs, according to the article?
3
How far above the Earth can a fireball typically be seen?
4
Where was Jason Jenkins driving when he recorded the fireball?
5
What was the weight of the meteor that crossed the Ohio sky the previous week?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
According to the article, what chemical element is primarily responsible for the green color of the fireball?
2
The author suggests that dashcams and doorbell cameras have changed how celestial events are recorded. What evidence supports this claim?
3
According to the passage, how does the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry define a fireball?
4
What other recent meteor events in the United States does the article describe, and how did they differ from the Pacific Northwest fireball?
5
The article implies that scientists may benefit from the video footage. What specific information could researchers potentially obtain from such recordings?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
If you had witnessed a green fireball in the sky, how would you have reacted, and whom would you have told first?
2
Do you believe governments should invest more money in tracking near-Earth objects? Why or why not?
3
In what ways has modern technology, such as dashcams and smartphones, changed how we experience and document natural events?
4
Some people find meteor showers and fireballs frightening, while others find them fascinating. Which perspective do you relate to, and why?
5
Had you been a scientist studying this fireball, what questions would you most want to answer about it?