Fireball Lights Up Northern China as NASA Tracks a Second Over Tennessee

Two bright lights on opposite sides of the world led this scan, and both have solid evidence behind them. Neither is a mystery craft: astronomers and NASA cameras point to space rocks burning up in the atmosphere. Here is what was reported and how well it checks out.

Fireball over northern China seen across several provinces (Nov 6)

What was reported: At about 6:31 p.m. local time on November 6, a bright, colorful fireball with a greenish tail crossed the sky over northern China. Witnesses in Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, Tianjin, Henan and Inner Mongolia described it descending for two to three seconds, and one person in Zhangjiakou said it lit up the cloud layer.

Evidence: Many independent eyewitnesses, plus dashcam and surveillance camera footage, some of which shows the object breaking apart. According to reports, Chinese astronomers judged it a single meteoroid, and a Tsinghua University team reconstructed its path over Yangquan in Shanxi.

Verifiability: Strong, based on multiple independent witnesses and camera footage.

Likely explanation: A natural meteor (fireball). A former Beijing Planetarium director said it may have dropped meteorites, but none have been confirmed. Online claims of a ground fire and an evacuation notice are unverified.

NASA cameras track fireball from North Carolina to Tennessee (Nov 5)

What was reported: Around 7:45 p.m. Eastern on November 5 (00:45 UTC on November 6), a fireball streaked southwest across the Southeast sky.

Evidence: Four of NASA's all-sky meteor cameras recorded it. NASA's data puts it at about 53 miles up over Robbinsville, North Carolina, moving at about 47,500 mph before it broke apart about 25 miles above East Ridge, Tennessee, near Chattanooga. It reached magnitude -6.1, far brighter than Venus.

Verifiability: Strong, based on official NASA sensor data.

Likely explanation: A small natural object, roughly two inches wide and six ounces. NASA said it was not part of the active Taurid meteor shower, even though the Taurids peaked that same week.

Saw something yourself?

November is fireball season, with the Taurids and Leonids both active. If you spot a strange light, note the time, direction and how long it lasted. Then run it through our Is It a UFO? checker to rule out meteors, satellites and rocket launches. A steady phone mount helps when you're filming; phone tripods for night-sky video are a cheap way to get usable footage.

Sources: Vulkane.net (China and US fireballs); People News (Beijing witness accounts); Charlotte Stories (NASA fireball data).