News Summary
On Thursday afternoon, a bright bolide fireball captivated observers across Knoxville and several surrounding states. Confirmed by the American Meteor Society, the fireball was reported at approximately 12:25 p.m. ET. Dashcam footage captured the spectacular event near North Gallaher Road and Interstate 40, leading to over 200 reports from witnesses. Eyewitnesses described loud booms and shaking, sparking discussions on possible connections with the fireball. This extraordinary meteor, classified as a bolide, travels at exceptional speeds and can produce sonic booms as it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
Knoxville, Tennessee experienced an extraordinary spectacle on Thursday afternoon as a dazzling bolide fireball streaked across the sky, with sightings reported across several states. The phenomenon was tracked at approximately 12:25 p.m. ET, with the American Meteor Society confirming the event’s details shortly after.
Dashcam footage captured the fireball near the intersection of North Gallaher Road and Interstate 40 in Knoxville. Following the sighting, over 200 reports about the fireball were submitted to the American Meteor Society, indicating that the event had garnered considerable attention from witnesses across the Southeastern United States.
In addition to Knoxville, observers in surrounding states such as Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina reported similar sightings. Notably, in Rockdale County, Georgia, witnesses described hearing a “loud sound like a boom,” and some reported that their houses shook around the same time the fireball was seen. This has led to ongoing discussions concerning the fireball’s impact and whether the loud noises and shaking were connected to the celestial event.
The American Meteor Society has classified the fireball as a bolide, a category of meteor that is particularly bright and can produce a sonic boom upon its entry into the atmosphere. Bolides are often the result of meteors or asteroids that are entering Earth’s atmosphere at extremely high velocities; in this case, those speeds can exceed 50,000 mph initially. However, bolides decelerate quickly, and as they descend to around 20,000 to 30,000 feet, they exit the atmosphere at speeds comparable to — or slightly faster than — a golf ball.
The phenomenon was corroborated by the National Weather Service in Charleston, which utilized satellite-based lightning detection to monitor a streak in the sky that coincided with the fireball report. This observation occurred in a cloud-free area over the North Carolina and Virginia border, particularly near Gasbury, Virginia.
While the majority of reports focused on the visual aspects of the fireball, uncertainty remains regarding the relationship between the loud boom and the shaking felt in Georgia. Speculation exists that multiple remnants from the same bolide event could be responsible for the various reports of loud noises and tremors.
In astronomical terms, fireballs are generally defined as exceptionally bright meteors, and bolides are recognized for their characteristic explosions at the end of their trajectory. The public is encouraged to report any fireball sightings through the dedicated platform provided by the American Meteor Society, reflecting a shared interest in these transient and often spectacular celestial occurrences.
As scientific interest continues to grow around such events, explanations and studies surrounding bolides and meteors also expand, allowing for a better understanding of how these phenomena impact the Earth and its atmosphere.
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Additional Resources
- WBIR: Knoxville Bolide Dashcam Video
- Google Search: fireball phenomenon
- WATE: Dash Camera Captures Meteor
- Wikipedia: Meteor
- Weather.com: Fiery Debris Seen
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Meteor
- Space.com: Meteor Fireball Video
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Bolide
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
