What Was That? A Bright Green Fireball Caught on Video Over Lake Erie, North America

On 21 October, people spotted a large fireball with a streaky tail in the early evening, visible across Lake Erie and wide region of the U.S. and parts of Canada. This stunning sight captivated onlookers and was widely shared on social media.

Fireball Over Lake Erie: meteor shower or space debris?

Numerous photos and videos captured the bright streak of light as the fireball zipped across the sky, remaining visible for several seconds. Eyewitnesses described the fireball as unusually large and bright.

In total, the American Meteor Society received 436 reports of the fireball, which was spotted across a vast area from northern Michigan to North Carolina and Kentucky to western New York, around 7 p.m. on Monday. The fireball’s west-to-east trajectory took it over Lake Erie.

The Largest Fireball In The Last Time

Fireballs have been occurring frequently lately, but this one over Lake Erie stands out as one of the most significant events in recent times. Due to their high altitude – often around 50 miles (80 km) above the ground – fireballs can be seen over such a large area.

According to NASA, meteors – often considered by astronomers to produce the most beautiful displays of the year – typically enter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of around 148,000 mph. These meteors leave glowing trails of debris that can last for several seconds or even minutes, depending on their size and speed. If they move fast enough, these meteors can also produce brilliant fireballs, which appear as prolonged light flashes.

So, What Is This Fireball, A Meteor?

Although the Taurid meteor shower is currently active and visible at that time of night, experts noted that this particular fireball was travelling in the opposite direction. Also, as NASA clarified, this latest fireball was not connected to the Orionid meteor shower, which peaked around the same time. This suggests the fireball was likely a random meteor, not linked to any known meteor shower.

Was It Space Debris?

Interestingly, not all fireballs come from natural sources. Hundreds of kilometers above Earth, there are satellites, rocket remnants, and other debris orbiting the planet. Over time, this material will eventually re-enter the atmosphere, burning up like meteors. Occasionally, larger pieces survive re-entry and reach the ground. With increasing amounts of space debris, these types of “fireball” events are expected to become more frequent in the future.

Regardless of their origin, these fireballs continue to be remarkable events that captivate audiences around the globe.