Current:Home > InvestWatch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky -WealthX
Watch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky
SafeX Pro View
Date:2025-04-08 09:45:36
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! (59)
Related
- Small twin
- How friendship between top women's climbers has helped them at Paris Olympics
- How friendship between top women's climbers has helped them at Paris Olympics
- How to clean a dog's ears: A simple guide to using solution to keep your pet healthy
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Colorado funeral home owners accused of mishandling 190 bodies ordered to pay $950M
- US weekly jobless claims fall more than expected in latest week
- Reese Witherspoon Turns Film Premiere Into a Family Affair With Kids Ava and Deacon Phillippe
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Travel Like a Celeb With This Top Packing Hack Used by Kyle Richards, Alix Earle, Paige Desorbo & More
Ranking
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Adele and Rich Paul are reportedly engaged! The star seemingly confirmed rumors at concert
- Missy Elliott has the most euphoric tour of the summer and this is why
- Horoscopes Today, August 9, 2024
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- A homemade aquarium appeared in a Brooklyn tree bed. Then came the goldfish heist
- More cases, additional death reported in nationwide Boar's Head deli meat listeria outbreak
- Debby finally moves out of the US, though risk from flooded rivers remains
Recommendation
House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
Timeline of events in Ferguson, Missouri, after a police officer fatally shot Michael Brown
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Athletes' Parade
Winter is coming for US men's basketball. Serbia game shows it's almost here.
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
The Best Early Labor Day 2024 Sales: 60% Off Pottery Barn, 50% Off Banana Republic, 70% Off Gap & More
It Ends With Us Drama? Untangling Fan Theories About Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif says her critics are just 'enemies of success'