A meteor was observed illuminating the skies over parts of North Carolina and Tennessee on Thursday night. According to NASA, the celestial event occurred at a speed of 47,000 mph.
Eyewitnesses shared numerous photos on social media, showing the fireball visible from about 50 miles above Robbinsville, North Carolina. NASA’s sky cameras, placed throughout the region, captured the meteor’s journey. One camera recorded the fireball traversing the sky over southern Tennessee on November 5, 2026.
The sky cameras tracked the meteor as it headed westward, ultimately dissipating around 25 miles above East Ridge near Chattanooga. The entire event unfolded in roughly 10 seconds.
NASA utilized footage from cameras at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, as well as in Huntsville, Alabama, Tullahoma, Tennessee, and a location near the Tennessee-North Carolina border. The analysis revealed the object was a small asteroid fragment, about two inches in diameter and weighing six ounces.
Meteors, or “shooting stars,” are asteroid fragments that become visible upon entering Earth’s atmosphere. A “fireball” is an exceptionally bright meteor visible over a vast area due to its brightness.
While fireballs can vary in size, some are much larger than the recent sighting over North Carolina and Tennessee. Larger fireballs can measure up to three feet or more.
NASA confirmed that the recent meteor was not associated with the Taurid meteor shower, which is currently active.
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