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Meteor Fireball Lights Up Southeastern Sky

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Bright meteor fireball illuminating the southeastern sky

News Summary

A spectacular meteor described as a bright fireball was confirmed by NASA to have blazed across the southeastern sky. Observed at 12:25 p.m., the meteor, an asteroidal fragment, disintegrated over West Forest, Georgia. Eyewitnesses reported sonic booms, and some areas felt ground vibrations. The event coincided with the Bootids meteor shower, leading to over 100 reports to the American Meteor Society. Investigations are ongoing, particularly regarding damage caused in McDonough, where a fragment crashed through a home.

Oxford, Georgia – A spectacular meteor, described as a bright “fireball,” was confirmed by NASA to have blazed across the southeastern sky on Thursday afternoon. The meteor was observed at approximately 12:25 p.m., first spotted at an altitude of 48 miles above Oxford, moving southwest at a speed of around 30,000 mph.

The meteor disintegrated about 27 miles over West Forest, Georgia, releasing energy equivalent to about 20 tons of TNT. Eyewitnesses reported hearing sonic booms following the event, which were attributed to the pressure wave created by the meteor’s rapid passage through the atmosphere. The bright fireball was identified as an asteroidal fragment approximately three feet in diameter and weighing over a ton.

NASA’s analysis of the event involved various sources including eyewitness accounts, video footage, and data gathered from satellites and Doppler weather radar. Multiple Doppler radar systems detected meteorite signatures, indicating pieces falling to the ground. Initially, the National Weather Service (NWS) speculated that the fireball might be space junk, but later confirmed that it was indeed a meteor.

The event drew attention across several states, with reports of sightings extending to South Carolina and Tennessee. Residents in metro Atlanta felt vibrations as a result of the sonic boom. In McDonough, Georgia, an incident was reported where a fragment crashed through the roof of a home, causing cracks to the flooring inside. An investigation is currently ongoing regarding this unusual damage.

The phenomenon coincided with the Bootids meteor shower, which may have contributed to the increase in meteor activity throughout the region. According to the American Meteor Society, over 100 reports were submitted regarding the fireball, reflecting its widespread visibility among residents.

While radar systems were unable to fully track the meteor due to its altitude and high velocity, GeoLightning Mappers (GLMs) were able to detect the flash created by the meteor’s entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Additional reports of the fireball’s descent continue to surface, with satellite records outlining its initial trajectory.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the meteor’s passage. The NWS confirmed that no earthquake activity was detected in the area during the timeframe of the sonic boom, ruling out any seismic events as the cause for the ground shaking felt by residents.

As the investigation into the damage in McDonough continues, the incident serves as a reminder of the dramatic events that can occur in our atmosphere, highlighting the importance of monitoring and understanding meteoric activity.

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Meteor Explosion Captivates Southeastern Residents

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