Fierce Fireball Illuminates Skies across Eastern States
Witnesses across a dozen eastern states watched in awe as the midnight skies were illuminated by a massive fireball, streaking across the sky early Friday, moving at a remarkable speed.
Astounding Sonic Boom Heard from Ground Below
This celestial spectacle of meteor, classified by NASA as a “very bright” fireball, was not just seen but also heard by those on the ground. The screaming meteor ran across the sky at an exceptional speed of 31,300 miles per hour and produced a sonic boom that resonated through much of North Carolina and Tennessee.
The meteor began its exciting yet short journey about 45 miles above Piney Flats, Tennessee, moving south and eastward, captivating the onlookers below. Before disintegrating over North Carolina, the celestial visitor was estimated to be around 2 feet in diameter and weighing approximately 1,000 pounds. Scientists have claimed the explosion produced energy equivalent to 10 tons of TNT, causing the shock waves heard at the ground level.
Sights Captured on Camera from Across the State
Residents driving along the Interstate 40 or those fortunate enough to have their security cameras pointed in the right direction managed to capture this breathtaking spectacle on video. The Grandfather Mountain Nature Preserve, a recreational hotspot located around 90 minutes outside of Asheville, N.C., shared a footage that showed the surrounding landscape dramatically lit up just before 1:15 a.m.
‘Longest’ Event Witnessed in Recent Times
From the Carolinas to Tennessee, witnesses reported seeing the fireball for a staggering total of 7 seconds, a length of time considered unusual for such events. According to one of the witnesses, the fireball was “not like a comet, not a long tail but bright green and fast.”
Potential Meteorite Remains on Ground
Although meteors seldom survive their descent through Earth’s atmosphere to become meteorites — with less than 5% succeeding — there’s a high likelihood that some remnants from this meteor have fallen around communities such as Spruce Pine, Ingalls, and Altapass, all in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Anyone who stumbles upon these potential pieces is urged to contact experts through Appalachian State’s Geology Department.
Despite an estimated 500 meteorites reaching Earth’s surface each year, less than a dozen ever make it into the hands of scientists. This event thus presents a unique opportunity for research and astronomical study.
