Current:Home > reviewsWatch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky -WealthSpot
Watch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky
View
Date:2025-04-16 12:20:22
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! (183)
Related
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Michigan prosecutors seek 10 to 15 years in prison for James and Jennifer Crumbley
- 'We do not know how to cope': Earth spinning slower may prompt negative leap second
- South Korean computer chipmaker plans $3.87 billion Indiana semiconductor plant and research center
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Free blue checks are back for some accounts on Elon Musk’s X. Not everyone is happy about it
- Biden touts inhaler price drops with Bernie Sanders: Finally, finally we beat big Pharma
- Caitlin Clark, Iowa return to Final Four. Have the Hawkeyes won the national championship?
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Governor says budgetary cap would limit his immediate response to natural disasters in Kentucky
Ranking
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Texas asks court to decide if the state’s migrant arrest law went too far
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise cheered by Wall Street finish
- Why Anna Paquin Is Walking With a Cane During Red Carpet Date Night With Husband Stephen Moyer
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Jonathan Majors' motion to dismiss assault, harassment conviction rejected by judge
- Transportation officials want NYC Marathon organizers to pay $750K to cross the Verrazzano bridge
- North Carolina State in the women's Final Four: Here's their national championship history
Recommendation
Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
US Sen. Rick Scott spends multiple millions on ads focused on Florida’s Hispanic voters
Man sentenced to 37 years on hate crime charges in deadly shooting at Muslim-owned tire shop
Earthquake in Taiwan blamed for at least 9 deaths as buildings and roads seriously damaged
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
2024 NFL mock draft: Who will Bills land to replace Stefon Diggs at WR after trade?
Police shoot Indiana man they say fired at officers
Court filing asks judge to rule that NCAA’s remaining NIL rules violate antitrust law