What’s That in the Sky? We’re Not Sure, but the Fireball Was Very Bright

Meteors and other space debris frequently enter Earth’s atmosphere, but it is rare for an object to be so bright it can easily be seen in broad daylight.

In this photo taken from video shows a bright object traveling in the sky in McDonough, Ga., on June 26, 2025. Bryan Jennings Updyke via AP

McDONOUGH, Ga.—An object bright enough to be seen streaking across the midday sky fell across parts of the Southeast U.S. on Thursday.

The object was likely either a meteor or space junk, with most sightings of the streak of light and fireball coming from Georgia and South Carolina around 12:30 p.m., the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City, Georgia, said on social media.