A blazing streak of light lit up the night sky over New Orleans and surrounding areas Saturday, leaving residents wondering if they were witnessing a meteor or something more mysterious.
Astronomers, however, have provided a clear explanation: the fiery display was caused by a decommissioned satellite re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
Falling Chinese Satellite Lights Up Southern Sky in Fiery Display
Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, confirmed that the streak of light came from a derelict Chinese imaging satellite burning up as it plummeted through the atmosphere, WearNews reported.
The satellite, formerly operated by Beijing-based SpaceView, had been orbiting Earth as space debris before gravity and atmospheric drag caused it to fall back to the planet.
This satellite's fiery demise occurred above New Orleans around 10 p.m., but its bright trail was visible across several states, including Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri.
Cell phone videos captured by witnesses showed the satellite fragmenting into smaller fireballs as it disintegrated. Some even likened it to a massive shooting star lighting up the Southern sky.
McDowell explained that such events are not rare. "When satellites orbit Earth as space junk, they eventually lose altitude due to atmospheric drag. Once they hit the thicker layers of the atmosphere at speeds of around 17,000 miles per hour, they heat up, burst into flames, and break apart," he said.
Fiery Satellite Streak Amazes Viewers, Highlights Growing Space Junk Problem
Social media lit up with posts from startled and amazed viewers. One user in Mobile, Alabama, described the sight as "huge," with an "amazing trail," while another initially mistook the light show for Christmas decorations.
According to the New York Post, despite its dramatic appearance, the re-entry posed no threat. Experts say space debris re-entering Earth's atmosphere is a common occurrence, with up to 400 objects burning up every year.
The majority disintegrate completely before reaching the ground, and most remnants that survive land in oceans or remote areas.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that around 30,000 pieces of space debris larger than a softball are currently orbiting Earth, with about 1,000 of them as large as spacecraft.
NASA tracks these objects using its Space Surveillance Network to monitor potential risks to satellites and other space infrastructure.
While the sight of a satellite burning up in the atmosphere may have startled some, McDowell emphasized it as a reminder of the increasing accumulation of space junk orbiting Earth. As space activity continues to grow, the need for better debris management becomes more urgent to prevent similar occurrences and protect active satellites.
