An Earth-grazing fireball (or Earth grazer) [2] is a fireball, a very bright meteor that enters Earth’s atmosphere and leaves again. Some fragments may impact Earth as meteorites, if the meteor starts to break up or explodes in mid-air. These phenomena are then called Earth-grazing meteor processions and bolides. [1]

Each year since 2005, the American Meteor Society receives hundreds of fireball reports. Browse the articles below and take a look at all the fireball reports. Pending Reports — these are reports that have been submitted, but not yet reviewed, approved or linked to a particular Fireball.

Our affiliates observe, monitor, collect data on, study, and report on meteors, meteor showers, fireballs, and related meteoric phenomena. Please note that the AMS does not deal in meteorites. Comments and Questions may be directed to the AMS Operations Manager Mike Hankey.

Feb 22, 2024 · A glittering fireball ignited evening skies over vast sections of the eastern United States and parts of Canada on Wednesday night, as it entered earth's atmosphere and promptly burned up.

A fireball is an unusually bright meteor that reaches a visual magnitude of -3 or brighter when seen at the observer’s zenith. Objects causing fireball events can exceed one meter in size. Fireballs that explode in the atmosphere are technically referred to as bolides although the terms fireballs and bolides are often used interchangeably.

The following chart shows reported fireball events for which geographic location data are provided. Each event's calculated total impact energy is indicated by its relative size and by a color. Hover over an event to see its details.

Jan 21, 1999 · A fireball is another term for a very bright meteor, generally brighter than magnitude -4, which is about the same magnitude of the planet Venus as seen in the morning or evening sky. A bolide is a special type of fireball which explodes in a bright terminal flash at its end, often with visible fragmentation.

Nov 14, 2024 · Cameras and NOAA weather satellites captured the moment when a meteor exploded into a brilliant fireball over the U.S. Midwest and parts of western Canada.

Oct 23, 2024 · A fiery meteor shot across the sky above the Great Lakes on Monday (Oct. 21) just after sunset, stunning witnesses from Michigan to New York, Kentucky and North Carolina.

Jan 3, 2024 · In summary, the difference between a meteor, a fireball, a bolide, and a superbolide hinges primarily on their brightness. A fireball is a meteor brighter than the planet Venus, a bolide is brighter than the full moon, and a superbolide is brighter than a hundred full moons.