Tennessee meteor spotted as fireball crossing the sky, NASA says

A bright meteor lit up the sky over Tennessee and North Carolina on Thursday, leaving witnesses stunned by the glowing display. According to NASA, the luminous event was caused by a piece of an asteroid vaporizing as it entered Earth's atmosphere.

The fireball was first observed above Robbinsville, North Carolina, at approximately 7:45 p.m. It traveled through the atmosphere at a speed of roughly 47,000 miles per hour, heading approximately 120 miles toward East Ridge, Tennessee, in less than 10 seconds. The cosmic object ultimately disintegrated 25 miles above the Earth's surface.

Observers took to Reddit to share their experiences of the streak of light, which glowed in shades of blue, white, and orangish yellow. One local witness described it as the “biggest ball of fire” they had ever seen. Another resident in Chattanooga reported hearing a sound resembling a lighter’s “poof” as the rock crossed overhead, leaving behind what they called “the most insane tail.”

Asteroid Fragment Details

Despite the dramatic visual and auditory effects, NASA confirmed on Friday that the fireball originated from a small, two-inch fragment of an asteroid that weighed less than half a pound.

The agency tracked the object using the All Sky Fireball Network, which relies on multiple black-and-white video cameras equipped with fisheye lenses to record from various directions. This camera setup allowed officials to precisely calculate the speed and height of the meteor. Furthermore, space agency officials clarified that the event was unrelated to the Taurid meteor shower, which remains active through November and frequently produces bright meteors.