NASA Reveals the Nature of ‘Fireball’ Observed over the Southeast

At 12:25 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 26, a meteor entered Earth’s atmosphere above Oxford, Georgia, traveling southwest at nearly 30,000 miles per hour. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reported that the object, estimated to be three feet wide and weighing more than a ton, broke apart 27 miles above West Forest.

The disintegration released energy on par with 20 tons of TNT. The meteor created a shockwave strong enough to cause loud booms and noticeable ground vibrations. NASA noted that “some large windows may have vibrated or even cracked” as a result.

The meteor’s intensity was such that it activated lightning-detection instruments aboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — tools typically used to monitor storm activity.

Doppler radar also recorded signs of falling debris, and NASA received multiple reports of possible meteorite fragments found on the ground. Among the most notable incidents was in McDonough, Georgia, where a resident reported that a rock had pierced the roof of their home, passed through the ceiling, and cracked the laminate floor.

The Henry County Emergency Management Agency confirmed structural damage at the home. Its director stated, “Although I can’t confirm this is from a meteor, there is unusual damage to the home.”

Radar images showed possible meteorite debris in the Blacksville area, near a Home Depot distribution center along Highway 20. No injuries have been reported in connection with the event.

The American Meteor Society (AMS) received over 100 reports from Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Witnesses described a blazing object visible even in daylight, followed by a boom and ground tremors.

While some believed an earthquake had occurred, the United States Geological Survey confirmed no seismic activity, attributing the sensation to a sonic boom caused by the meteor’s atmospheric entry.

Michelle Hartley, who saw the fireball from Calhoun, Georgia, said, “I just happened to look up and I seen it coming down out of the sky like it was white, and the ball of it was like on fire. It was crazy. I keep replaying it in my head.”

Brenda Eckard of Gilbert, South Carolina, recalled seeing a “big flash in the sky come down and disappear.” She told CNN it “almost looked like a firework” and shared that she immediately called her husband to check on their home.

Dashcam and doorbell camera footage from across the region, including South Carolina and Johns Creek, Georgia, captured the meteor’s descent. The streak was clearly visible in early afternoon light.

Astrophysicist Alissa Bans, director of Emory University’s observatory, explained that the phenomenon was likely a bolide, an exceptionally bright meteor that can explode upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.

“This likely had its origin, kind of, as an asteroid or a part of an asteroid,” Bans said. “That is pretty unusual… There are usually just a handful a year that reach that fireball class.” She added, “Luckily, most of the time, things burn up pretty easily in Earth’s atmosphere.”

The National Weather Service in Charleston, South Carolina, confirmed that satellite sensors detected the meteor over the North Carolina–Virginia border. Officials in Anderson County, South Carolina, are also investigating a potential crash site.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the meteor’s exact origin and whether any recovered fragments are of extraterrestrial origin.