Huge Arctic Fireball Called "Meteor of the Century"

EDMONTON - Murray Balsom was trying to launch a weather balloon when a huge fireball burst across the sky over his small Arctic village of Resolute.

"This was humongous," he said of the gaseous light show he witnessed 10 days ago.

"Had there been a full moon that night, I'm sure it would have covered three quarters of it. I bet you it lasted six to eight seconds before it disappeared behind the hill on the edge of town. There were all kinds of colours bursting out of it. The tail lasted a good two hours."