Current:Home > NewsWatch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky -Wealth Axis Pro
Watch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky
View
Date:2025-04-15 21:12:59
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! (13567)
Related
- Sam Taylor
- Lift Your Face in Just 5 Minutes and Save $221 on the NuFace Toning Device
- Wayfair's Early Way Day Deals Are Here: Shop the Best Home Decor, Kitchenware, Furniture & More on Sale
- How to save a slow growing tree species
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Andy Cohen Reveals Why He Lost His S--t With Teresa Giudice at RHONJ Season 13 Reunion
- What we do — and don't yet — know about the malaria cases in the U.S.
- Efforts to recharge California's underground aquifers show mixed results
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Prince William Privately Settled Phone-Hacking Case for Very Large Sum
Ranking
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Shop the 10 Best Under $30 Sulfate-Free Shampoos
- Blake Lively Makes Stylish Appearance at First Red Carpet Event Since Welcoming Baby No. 4
- Alec Baldwin's Criminal Charges Dropped in Rust Shooting Case
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Meghan Trainor Diagnosed With PTSD After Son Riley's Traumatic Birth
- Vanderpump Rules Couples Status Check: See Who's Still Together
- Halsey and Alev Aydin Break Up Nearly 2 Years After Welcoming Son
Recommendation
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
Julianne Hough Recalls How Relationship With Ex Ryan Seacrest Impacted Her Career
Balloon shoot-down has U.S. on alert. Weather forecasters know how to steer clear
Ryan Gosling Trades in the Ken-ergy for a '90s Boy Band Style with Latest Look
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Tornado hits south Texas, damaging dozens of homes
Climate change is causing people to move. They usually stay local, study finds
What is there a shortage of? Find out in the NPR news quiz (hint: it's not smoke)