Massive fireball shocks residents across the Southeast US
- A massive fireball was observed across several southeastern states on Thursday, leading to numerous reports.
- Residents experienced loud booms due to the sonic impact of the fireball, causing concern and confusion.
- The event has sparked significant discussion on social media, highlighting the rarity of such daytime phenomena.
On Thursday afternoon, a massive bright fireball streaked across the skies of the southeastern United States, capturing the attention of numerous residents. Visible from states including Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee, the event was so dramatic that it led to over 160 reports being logged by the American Meteor Society. The National Weather Service received calls from concerned citizens, some of whom mistook the phenomenon as a possible rocket attack due to current international conflicts, highlighting the intense curiosity and anxiety surrounding such unexpected occurrences. Reports indicated that the fireball, which exploded just above Georgia, created a sonic boom that many residents heard, leading to confusion and speculation about its nature. Previous analysis confirmed the presence of a streak seen between 12:51 and 12:56 p.m. ET on Thursday via satellite-based lightning detection. Detailed investigations suggested the object likely entered the atmosphere at an altitude of 48 miles, moving southwest at a staggering speed of 30,000 miles per hour and ultimately exploding at 27 miles above the ground, equivalent to about 20 tons of TNT. Residents described the unsettling experience of hearing loud booms that accompanied the fireball’s descent, melding their anxiety with awe. Just before reports of the explosion, a citizen in Henry County, Georgia, reported a rock crashing through their roof, which correlated with the sighting and sonic boom incident. The North American Aerospace Defense Command directed queries to NASA regarding the object while the public speculated about its origins - whether it was merely a meteor or space debris. Notably, the ongoing Bootids meteor shower, active during this time, may have played a role in drawing attention to the event. Such bright daytime fireballs are rare, with the American Meteor Society estimating only one out of every 700 fireball events are visible in daylight. Consequently, this incident prompted extensive discussions on social media platforms, making 'meteor' a trending topic as residents expressed their astonishment and sought explanations.