Fiery meteor streaks light up Southeastern US sky sparking theories

Thousands in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee report fiery streak in the sky — Starlink or Chinese satellite?


News Desk December 22, 2024

Thousands of residents across several southeastern states reported seeing a brilliant streak of light streaking through the sky.

Around 10 pm, videos shared on social media platforms showed a cluster of fiery objects traveling slowly over Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee, sparking widespread curiosity and speculation.

Many of the initial reports suggested the fireballs were linked to a Chinese satellite entering Earth’s atmosphere, but other meteorologists pointed to another possibility.

According to multiple sources, the phenomenon could be related to Starlink satellite 3288, which is believed to have burned up upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

A video of the event, shared on social media depicted the fiery streak as it moved slowly across the sky. The objects appeared to break apart before disappearing from view.

Though the origin of the fireballs remains uncertain, experts suggest that satellites, particularly those from the Starlink constellation, are often responsible for similar sky events as they reenter Earth's atmosphere.

The incident has prompted discussions regarding satellite reentries and their visible impact on the night sky.

No reports of injuries or damage have been made so far. 

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