Current:Home > InvestWatch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky -Thrive Success Strategies
Watch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky
View
Date:2025-04-15 10:53:47
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! (397)
Related
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- How does Selection Sunday work? What to know about how March Madness fields are selected
- Historic Texas wildfire threatens to grow as the cause remains under investigation
- Man killed by Connecticut state trooper was having mental health problems, witnesses testify
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- 'Expanding my pod': Lala Kent expecting her second baby, 'Vanderpump Rules' star announces
- Israel faces mounting condemnation over killing of Palestinians in Gaza City aid distribution melee
- Two men are dead after a small plane crash near a home in Minnesota
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Trillions of gallons leak from aging drinking water systems, further stressing shrinking US cities
Ranking
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Tennessee, Houston headline winners and losers from men's basketball weekend
- 2024 MLS All-Star Game set for July vs. Liga MX. Tickets on sale soon. Here's where to buy
- How much snow fell in Northern California and the Sierra Nevada? Snowfall over 7 feet
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Joshua Jackson and Lupita Nyong'o Confirm Romance With PDA-Filled Tropical Getaway
- Mike Evans, Buccaneers agree to two-year contract ahead of NFL free agency
- Chris Mortensen, ESPN award-winning football analyst, dies at 72
Recommendation
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
Joshua Jackson and Lupita Nyong'o Confirm Romance With PDA-Filled Tropical Getaway
FAA audit faults Boeing for 'multiple instances' of quality control shortcomings
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says federal government not notified about suspect in Georgia nursing student's death
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Catholic news site Church Militant agrees to pay $500k in defamation case and is expected to close
Man City’s 3-1 win against Man United provides reality check for Jim Ratcliffe
Powerball winning numbers for March 2 drawing: Jackpot rises to over $440 million