News Summary
A bright fireball meteor dazzled residents across Georgia and neighboring states, causing sonic booms and reported structural damage. The National Weather Service attributes the event to the Bootids meteor shower. Eyewitness accounts detail loud booms and shaking homes, particularly in Rockdale County. The meteor, possibly a bolide, was brighter than a full moon, and investigations are underway to identify potential meteorite landing sites.
Georgia experienced a remarkable celestial event on Thursday afternoon, June 26, 2025, as a bright fireball meteor was observed streaking across the sky, resulting in reports of sonic booms and damage in various locations across the Southeastern United States. The fireball was detected between 11:51 a.m. and 11:56 a.m. over the borders of North Carolina and Virginia, and sightings were confirmed by numerous residents throughout metro Atlanta and neighboring states.
The National Weather Service of Charleston, South Carolina, received many reports of the phenomenon, supporting eyewitness testimony about the noise and disturbances it caused. The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg suggested that based on video evidence, the event was likely a meteorite. They have attributed the occurrence to the ongoing Bootids meteor shower, which was active during that week.
Eyewitnesses described loud booms and reported that their homes shook, with specific accounts highlighting Rockdale County, Georgia as a notable area of impact. More than 100 individual observations were submitted to the American Meteor Society from various states, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The striking visual was captured on dashcam footage, particularly notable in Upstate South Carolina.
Reports of damage emerged from Henry County, Georgia, where a resident experienced a rock crashing through their ceiling, resulting in structural damage. Photographs from the scene displayed a notable hole in the roof and ceiling, with debris scattered throughout the interior. The fireball reached an extraordinary magnitude of approximately -14, making it significantly brighter than a full moon.
Experts have described this event as a daytime fireball, a rare occurrence as these exceptionally bright meteors are seldom observed during daylight hours. A specific subset of fireballs, known as bolides, are noted for their brilliant explosions of light. It is believed that this fireball may have produced a significant explosion upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
In the aftermath of the event, the North American Aerospace Defense Command was approached for assistance; however, they referred inquiries to NASA for further information. Satellite imagery indicated the presence of a possible smoke trail stretching from Tennessee and into northern Georgia, reinforcing the widespread nature of the incident.
Emergency management officials in South Carolina were actively monitoring reports as additional details continued to emerge. Though the fireball is part of a relatively minor meteor shower, visibility of such events during daylight makes them even rarer. Furthermore, the sonic boom associated with the fireball was considered an unusual phenomenon, given that sonic booms typically go unheard on the ground during similar occurrences.
As investigations continue, the precise cause of the fireball sightings, as well as the potential landing sites for meteorite fragments, remain unidentified. This mesmerizing event has left residents across the Southeastern U.S. both awestruck and curious, providing a vivid reminder of the dynamic natural phenomena occurring outside of our everyday experience.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Fox Weather: Daytime Fireball Sighting in Southeast
- CNN: Fireball Spotted Over Southeastern US
- BBC: Video Coverage of Fireball Sighting
- NBC News: Meteor Fireball Over Southeast
- Wikipedia: Meteor
- Google Search: Fireball Meteor 2025
- CBS News: Fireball Meteorite in Georgia
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Meteor
- 11Alive: Reports of Fireball over Atlanta
- Google Scholar: Daytime Fireball Meteor
Author: STAFF HERE CHARLESTON
The HERE Charleston Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Charleston community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Charleston : Our team includes lifelong Charleston residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Charleston's equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., Charleston Technical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
