Massive Fireball Streaks Across Southern Japan, Lighting Up the Night Sky

On Aug. 19, residents of southern Japan witnessed a brilliant fireball streaking across the night sky, lighting up cities from Kagoshima to Osaka. The meteor appeared at 11:08 p.m. local time, glowing green-blue with flashes so bright they rivaled the moon before bursting into orange-red fragments above the Pacific Ocean. Security and dashcam cameras captured the dazzling display, while some residents reported feeling shockwaves as it passed. Experts say the fireball was likely caused by a small asteroid fragment burning up in Earth’s atmosphere. Though it coincided with the Perseid meteor shower, astronomers note it may have been a sporadic event.