A massive fireball seen streaking across the Charlotte sky midday Thursday has prompted widespread speculation and investigation into whether a meteor entered the Earth’s atmosphere.
The American Meteor Society (AMS) confirmed it received 142 official reports across the Southeast, including sightings in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
The incident occurred around 12:26 p.m. on June 26. Witnesses described a bright, fast-moving object that flashed across the sky before disappearing.
Videos posted online from across the region captured the fiery trail in broad daylight, leading many to believe they had seen a meteor.
National Weather Service officials said early assessments indicate the object was likely a meteorite, although the agency is still investigating. If confirmed, the object would have entered the Earth’s atmosphere as a meteor, which creates a bright streak of light, and become a meteorite only if fragments survived the descent and impacted the ground.
In Georgia, the Henry County Emergency Management Agency responded to a reported impact in a residential area after a homeowner said a rock crashed through their roof. Officials are investigating whether the debris is linked to Thursday’s fireball.
Reports continue to surface across the Carolinas and beyond, with social media users sharing images and footage of the object from multiple angles. No injuries have been reported, but experts are urging caution and asking the public to report any unusual debris to local authorities.
