Meteor Fireball Lights Up the Georgia Sky

News Summary

A meteor event created a spectacular fireball visible across a wide area including the Central Savannah River Area. Witnesses described a bright, fiery ball in the sky, with some mistaking it for a plane crash. NASA confirmed the fireball originated from a three-foot diameter meteor fragment from an asteroid. While experts speculate the meteor likely landed in South Carolina, a widespread excitement gripped residents as many reported the sonic boom associated with the event. An individual even discovered a rock that crashed through their roof, which is being investigated for its origins.

Augusta, Georgia – A spectacular meteor event created a fireball visible across the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and beyond on Thursday, occurring at approximately 12:25 p.m. NASA confirmed that the fireball was caused by a meteor, which was identified as a three-foot diameter fragment from an asteroid weighing over a ton. The meteor disintegrated at a remarkable speed of 30,000 mph, approximately 27 miles above Newton County, Georgia, releasing energy equivalent to around 20 tons of TNT.

Many residents in the CSRA were privileged to witness this stunning event, despite the meteor being located on the opposite side of Georgia. Eyewitness reports flooded local 911 call centers, with several individuals initially mistaking the incident for a plane crash. Among the recorded evidence, a dash camera owned by a Columbia County resident captured the moment, which was later shared widely.

The fireball was observed as far west as Tennessee and as far north as Spartanburg, South Carolina. Witnesses expressed their awe, one resident describing a “bright, fiery ball” in the sky while in Dawsonville. Another individual from Sandersville recounted observing a yellowish flaming object shaped like a tadpole that transitioned to a bluish color, leaving a trail of black smoke, followed by a loud boom.

Experts from the Dupont Planetarium at USC-Aiken speculated that the meteor likely landed in the vicinity of the Upstate of South Carolina. However, they noted that recovering meteorites is a rare achievement. Dr. Gary Senn from USC-Aiken mentioned the challenges of locating a meteorite, should one have landed. Seismographs recorded the sonic boom that many residents experienced, which some initially mistook for an earthquake.

Among the unusual events surrounding the meteor sighting, there were reports of at least a dozen individuals being hospitalized due to a lightning strike at Lake Murray shortly before the meteor event. Local authorities responded to 911 calls and conducted searches along Interstate 20, where they discovered that the black smoke reported by residents was from a controlled burn, not an aircraft incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that there were no reports of unusual aircraft activity in the area during the meteor sighting.

The meteor event was detected by the National Weather Service, which utilized Global Lightning Mappers that track flashes in the sky. Multiple Doppler radars also indicated signatures consistent with meteorites descending to the ground. Experts believe this event may be linked to the Beta Taurids meteor shower.

Social media platforms were abuzz with posts from users across several states, reflecting the widespread visibility of the fireball, with sightings recorded from as far south as Macon, Georgia, to the Upstate of South Carolina. In a notable development, a resident in Henry County reported finding a rock that had crashed through their roof. This discovery is currently under investigation to confirm if it indeed originated from the meteor.

The National Weather Service clarified that reports of a tremor felt by some individuals were the result of the sonic boom generated by the meteor, not an earthquake. As investigations and assessments continue, the mysteries surrounding this stunning celestial event capture the collective fascination of both the local community and astronomy enthusiasts alike.

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Additional Resources

• WRDW: Fireball Catches Eyes Across CSRA
• Wikipedia: Meteor
• WJBF: Possible Meteorite Seen Across CSRA
• Google Search: Meteorite event CSRA
• Atlanta News First: Reports of Fireball Across Several States
• Google Scholar: Meteor fireball events
• WBTV: Fireball Seen Falling in South Carolina
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Meteor
• WYFF: Fiery Ball Falling From the Sky in South Carolina
• Google News: Fireball in CSRA