Anchorage - Southcentral Alaska authorities didn't have any immediate cause for a loud booming noise heard Thursday night and reported by Channel 2 viewers, but seemed to rule out sonic booms from aircraft in responses Friday.

Reports of the sounds were posted on Channel 2's Facebook page Thursday evening by people ranging from Eagle River to the Mat-Su Valley. Some reports placed the phenomenon between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday, with Channel 2's Late Edition airing a brief update on the reports. Viewers' descriptions of the sound varied, but those who heard it generally agreed that it was a strong and persistent noise.

"I live in Peters Creek and I heard several loud noises outside and then muted the television," Channel 2 viewer Rachel Lee wrote. "After about a minute of silence, there was a rumble and my chandelier started to shake. I thought it might have been an earthquake but I looked online and there weren't any listed at that time; it was 8:05 p.m."

"About the only thing I can compare it to is someone going down a dirt road really fast," viewer Deb Spaulding wrote. "(I)t was that sort of rumble."

"I was in the garage and I heard it. It (lasted) for a while," wrote viewer Michelle Thomas Hanks. "At first I thought it was the wind until I stepped outside... My (neighbor's kids) looked for what was making that loud noise and they could not see anything just kept hearing the loud noise."

John Pennell, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's chief of media operations, says the base wasn't flying any of its supersonic fighter jets capable of causing sonic booms Thursday night, with only subsonic C-17 Globemaster III transports flying until 9:30 p.m.

"Although they are loud, I don't think anybody's going to mistake them for a sonic boom," Pennell said.

12:33 AM: Have just received two reports of this, one a text, and then this e-mail from Chas in Gatewood:

No images - but sitting upstairs looking West (past my computer screen), just saw a giant green fireball enter over what looked like Kitsap Peninsula - green streak coming from high in sky (limit of window), turning yellow and ending in large (5 times apparent diameter of moon) green fireball just above what looked like the mountains - couldn't really tell how far it was except for the brightness and detail suggested it was relatively close (within hundred/or so miles). About 3 minutes ago for timing (like 12:20am or thereabouts).

We had heard of a possible meteor shower tonight. Looking it up now.

12:48 AM UPDATE: Thanks to "Meteorologist Patrick" (as we know him) Kelly - who mentioned via Twitter that it's the Quadrantid meteor shower, which Space.com is covering here. This WashingtonPost.com story has details too - apparently the shower is peaking right now (convert the WP times to three hours earlier, of course).

12:55 AM: Someone at the National Weather Service saw it too:

The year 2012 saw a new record set for most meteorite falls in a single year in the 21st century. I started keeping detailed records of every new meteorite fall that is recovered or reported by reliable sources. Some of these have not been officially approved by the Meteoritical Society yet, but that is not unusual.

In 2012, eleven (11) new meteorite falls fit the above criteria to be included on my list. Prior to 2012, the most falls in a single 21st century year (since 2000), was ten falls in 2008.

On average, since the year 2000, we have averaged about 5 recovered meteorite falls per year that are either officially accepted by the Meteoritical Society or verified by reliable sources (such as the 2008 Zunhua meteorite fall, which has not been officially approved yet, but is a meteorite nonetheless).

The first verified fall of 2012 was a few days before Valentine's Day on February 11, 2012. This was the so-called "XINING-Huangzhong" meteorite,
which has not been officially approved yet, but was analyzed and is likely an L6-chondrite.

Lexington County, SC (WIS) - Residents of Red Bank in Lexington County appear to have gotten a loud awakening Thursday morning as multiple reports indicate a loud booming noise in the area.

WIS News 10 viewers poured onto our Facebook page this morning to report the sound.

"What was the horrific boom in the Redbank area," asked Lisa Russell Fields. "People are saying it sounded like a plane crash or explosion."

"I also heard the "big boom" this morning. So did a lot of other people, it sounds like a close cannon or something and will shake the whole building/house," said Jennifer Lee Stokes Kleine.

"Does anyone have a concrete explanation for the loud boom that shook houses in Lexington County around the Redbank/YMCA/Old Barnwell Road area this morning around 8:30 a.m.," said Mary Frances Henry Bell.

27 December 2012 - Joe Corona, California @ 6:15:00

3 seconds duration. Right to left, going south. White-orange and maybe blue colour. Bright as the sun.

27 December 2012 - H. Duplessis, Valley Center, CA @ 6:30 am PST

2 seconds duration. I was facing south-east. White streak traveled down, in easterly direction. First it was a white streak falling east then it ended with a green blast (green fireball?). Very bright white, similar to burning magnesium. Sky was clear, streak & green fireball were very distinct.

It was a scary day if you were living in Sochi, Russia, on Wednesday. During the early morning hours, a gas pipeline that feeds a local power station exploded, then in an unrelated incident later in the morning, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocked the city.

Sochi is to be host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 7-23.

There were no reported injuries from either incident.

Russia President Vladimir Putin ordered authorities to inspect Olympic sites, particularly those under construction, to ensure that there was no damage.

"Emergencies Ministry servicemen scoured through the city districts, but there was no damage," according to Irina Gogoleva of Russia's Emergencies Ministry.

Gogoleva said the reason for the explosion is unknown.

A Moroccan farmer got the shock of his life when a giant snowball fell to earth leaving a half metre hole in his land. The farmer from the Hrira region split the ice and put it in his fridge to prevent it melting. Local authorities then sent a team of scientists who confirmed that it was in fact a 'mega meteor' from space.

Hawley, Texas Sandia Sentinel All-sky Camera, Kevin Palivec

Colorado, Utah Daytime Meteor, ~17:15 MST, 21 December 2012

21 December 2012 - Linda Mossman. Eagle, Colorado @ 17:30 ish?

About 7 seconds duration. We were facing West. Object started in the Southwestern sky and fell towards the Northwestern horizon. Started with red flash, like fireworks, then bright white as it crossed the sky. As bright as the moon. This was very cool to watch with my son. We couldn't believe it stayed in the sky as long as it did.

21 December 2012 - Jerry Hernandez. Monticello, Utah, USA @ 17:19 MST

3 seconds duration. I was traveling North on Highway 191. It appeared directly over the center of my windshield. It traveled South, to the right. It was not fully dark and a very bright light streaked down and a spark of it came off the top right. Both continued down. Brighter than Venus. A spark came off the top right. Amazing it was bright considering it wasn't even dark yet.

21 December 2012 - John Hill. Nederland, Colorado ,USA @ 17:17 Mountain Standard Time

3 seconds duration. I was facing West. Direction of travel South to North. Bright white with no sound observed as I was in closed car. Brighter and larger than a planet. Very round, quite large, and relatively slower moving than a meteor.

21 December 2012 - Kathy Treanor. Salem, Utah, USA @ 17:15:00

5 seconds duration. South-Northeast. White, no sound, very bright and low. Same color as moon. 5 pieces fell off in trail, daylight hours.

Santa Barbara, California, U.S. - A series of jolts or "booms" as some viewers have described them are sending nervous jitters through the Tri-counties.

The first one hit at 9:34am in the Santa Barbara area followed by at least a half dozen more over the next hour. People have been calling into the KEYT newsroom from Thousand Oaks to Morro Bay saying they felt them.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Dept. released a statement at 10:42am explaining that it confirmed through various state and federal agencies that there has been no seismic activity, but it may be activity caused by military aircraft flying over our area.

The U.S. Geological survey website shows a 2.6 magnitude quake hit the Cherry Valley area in Riverside County at 9:34am, but it seems unlikely that would be the source of the jolts.

Vandenberg Air Force base is not reporting any military activity. Staff Sgt. Riendeau at the base said in a phone interview they are "looking into the issue to find out what's going on."

Steve Walter, a seismologist with the USGS in Menlo Park, told KEY News in a phone interview that the jolts appear to be happening in the atmosphere, something he calls "air phase". He said many of the phone calls he received so far are from the Vandenberg, Lompoc, Diablo Canyon and Santa Maria areas. He said the reports he has heard are similar to what the Navy does in Northern California when they blow up older explosives. The blasts can be felt for up to 100 miles away.

KEY News will post the latest on this story as we get it and on KEY News tonight.