A bright greenish blue fireball lit up the night sky across several US states, leaving hundreds of people stunned and triggering widespread discussion online. The rare event appeared late Sunday night and was visible in multiple regions across the country.
According to the American Meteor Society, witnesses reported seeing the glowing object shortly after 10:30 p.m. CDT. Observers from at least 15 states shared sightings of the fireball, including Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee.
NASA tracks meteor across several states
NASA confirmed that the fireball first appeared over Tupelo, Mississippi, before traveling nearly 300 miles across the sky. The object later disappeared over the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri.
Scientists believe the object was a meteor rather than space debris created by human activity.
The meteor entered Earth’s atmosphere at an estimated speed of 56,000 miles per hour. Experts said the intense heat and friction caused the object to burn brightly as it moved across the sky.
Several witnesses also reported seeing the meteor break apart before disappearing completely.
Videos of the fireball quickly spread online
More than 500 people submitted reports about the event to the American Meteor Society. Many residents also recorded videos showing the bright streak of light crossing the sky.
The footage quickly went viral across social media platforms because of the unusual color and brightness of the fireball.
NASA’s all sky camera network captured the event from three separate locations, helping scientists analyze the meteor’s path and speed.
Scientists explain the size and brightness
According to NASA estimates, the meteor measured only about three inches in diameter and weighed roughly one pound. Despite its small size, it appeared extremely bright because of its high speed and atmospheric burn.
Experts explained that the meteor briefly shined around 16 times brighter than Venus, one of the brightest visible objects in the night sky.
Scientists believe the object likely came from a larger asteroid fragment traveling through space.
Researchers continue analyzing the event
Most experts believe the meteor completely disintegrated before reaching the ground. However, researchers continue studying its trajectory to determine whether any small fragments survived atmospheric entry.
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Meteor events like this happen regularly around the world, but large visible fireballs remain relatively rare and often attract significant public attention.
The latest sighting once again highlighted public fascination with unusual space phenomena and rare astronomical events captured on camera.
