Current:Home > NewsWatch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky -BrightPath Capital
Watch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky
View
Date:2025-04-18 21:46:56
A meteor made a surprise appearance in the sky early Friday morning, burning brightly as it traveled across two neighboring states before dissipating.
Glenn Sparks, a driver headed east on Interstate 40 in Tennessee, documented the moment on Facebook, writing that he had just witnessed the "most amazing meteor of my life" at around 1 a.m. on Friday.
The shooting star, according to Sparks, looked like it was roughly over Greeneville, about 65 miles east of Knoxville, when he spotted it.
"It lit up the sky for over 10 seconds with multiple explosions along the way," Sparks wrote. "Absolutely gorgeous!"
Watch: Meteor briefly illuminate Tennessee skyline
Southwest Virginia residents also caught sight of the fleeting ball of fire, capturing the meteor, also known as a shooting star, on video as it whizzed by in a matter of seconds.
Sparks' awe was audible in the video clip that he took, saying "What?" and erupting into laughter.
While Sparks may have been in awe, meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere regularly, with NASA estimating that that "several meteors per hour" can usually be seen on any given night.
"Scientists estimate that about 48.5 tons of meteoritic material falls on Earth each day," according to NASA. "Almost all the material is vaporized in Earth's atmosphere, leaving a bright trail fondly called 'shooting stars.'"
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Google’s search engine’s latest AI injection will answer voiced questions about images
- Judge denies Wisconsin attorney general’s request to review Milwaukee archdiocese records
- Eminem's Daughter Hailie Jade Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby With Evan McClintock
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- How a long-haul trucker from Texas became a hero amid floods in Tennessee
- Rachel Zegler addresses backlash to controversial 'Snow White' comments: 'It made me sad'
- Officer saves missing 3-year-old child from potential drowning: Video captures dramatic rescue
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Watch Layla the bat dog retrieve her last bat after 6 years of service
Ranking
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- The Grammys’ voting body is more diverse, with 66% new members. What does it mean for the awards?
- Jury mulling fate of 3 former Memphis officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating
- Where Is the Desperate Housewives Cast Now?
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Why is October 3 'Mean Girls' Day? Here's why Thursday's date is the most 'fetch' of them all
- SNAP benefits, age requirements rise in last echo of debt ceiling fight. What it means.
- Florida communities hit three times by hurricanes grapple with how and whether to rebuild
Recommendation
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
Google’s search engine’s latest AI injection will answer voiced questions about images
'Deadpool and Wolverine' becomes 'best first-day seller' of 2024 with digital release
Love Is Blind's Hannah Reveals Her True Thoughts on Leo's Shouting Match
Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
Bank of America customers report account outages, some seeing balances of $0
Georgia attorney general appeals a judge’s rollback of abortion ban
'Survivor' Season 47, Episode 3: Who was voted out during this week's drama-filled episode?