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Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Video shows fireball meteor explode in broad daylight. How rare is this cosmic phenomenon?
People across Georgia on Thursday witnessed an unusual flash of light streaking through the bright blue sky, followed by a thunderous boom that rattled windows. But there were no thunderstorms in the area. The culprit? An exceptionally bright meteor called a fireball. Videos from dashcams and security cameras shared online caught the event, which occurred around 12:24 p.m. EDT on June 26. It was also observed by a lightning detector on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-East satellite, as confirmed by posts on X by NOAA and the NWS Charleston. The event generated more than 200 reports to the American Meteor Society (AMS), the organization in charge of monitoring meteoric phenomena, including a possible meteorite strike on a home in Georgia. But what exactly is a fireball? Here's why it's so unusual to see one in the light of day. Every day, space rocks called meteoroids bombard the Earth. These rocks come from comets, asteroids, or even the moon or other planets and range in size from a speck of dust (most common) to a small asteroid (very rare). NASA estimates some 48.5 tons of meteoritic material enters the atmosphere daily. (What's the difference between an asteroid and a comet?) However, that's where the fates of these rocks can diverge. If a meteoroid enters the atmosphere and burns up, it's called a meteor. But if a meteor reaches the surface of Earth, it becomes a meteorite. Fireballs are a less common type of meteor—they earn that designation when they appear brighter than Venus in the night sky. While thousands of fireballs fall on the Earth each day, most happen over the ocean or uninhabited areas, or they occur during daylight hours and are drowned out by daylight. That's what makes the Georgia event much rarer. "Daytime fireballs are rarer to see because the sun outshines the meteor in most cases. Only the largest objects will be seen, and there are fewer of these," says Hankey. According to Hankey, AMS receives reports of daytime fireballs between five and 10 times per year. Given their larger size, fireballs often don't burn up completely as they travel through the atmosphere, and their debris will strike the Earth as meteorites. Those meteorites generally cannot be seen for the last nine to 12 miles of their descent—what AWS calls their 'dark flight' period—as they lose their light as they decelerate. ('Alien' minerals never found on Earth identified in meteorite.) As for the window-rattling boom accompanying a fireball, that's likely a sonic boom. Meteors enter the atmosphere at speeds ranging from 20,000 to 160,000 miles per hour. When an object surpasses the speed of sound—around 760 miles an hour at sea level—it builds up so much pressure that this releases a large sound wave as a 'sharp release of pressure.' If you think you've witnessed a fireball, you can submit a report to AMS to help them confirm the event. "We can usually validate a fireball sighting with five or more eyewitness reports. The data submitted can be mathematically joined, and we can produce a meteor track from the observations," Hankey says. With 20 or more reports, the team can determine a reasonably accurate track, while videos of a fireball provide even better information. "These can be used to refine the track and gauge the velocity and magnitude," says Hankey. This can help determine whether not the meteor belongs to a meteor shower, or narrow down the area where a meteorite might have fallen.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Hurricane center gives low chance for system to form in Gulf
The National Hurricane Center began tracking a system in the Caribbean that could move into the Gulf waters off Mexico over the weekend with a chance to develop into the season's next tropical depression or storm. In its 8 a.m. Friday tropical outlook, the NHC stated the area of showers and thunderstorms was in the northwestern Caribbean Sea approaching Belize and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, but expected to move west-northwest into the Bay of Campeche in the southwestern Gulf waters on Saturday or Sunday where a low pressure area could form. "Subsequent slow development is possible on Sunday or Monday if the system remains offshore of the coast of Mexico," forecasters said. "Regardless of development, locally heavy rains are possible over portions of Belize, Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico during the next few days." The NHC first began tracking the system Thursday night. It gave it a 10% chance to develop in the next two days and 20% in the next seven. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season that officially began on June 1 has been quiet so far with only one named storm - Tropical Storm Andrea - that formed for less than a day out in the middle of the Atlantic last week. The next name on this season's list is Barry. It was the latest since 2014 that a named system had formed. That year the first named storm didn't come until June 30. Despite the late start, this year's hurricane season is still predicted to be above-normal by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency predicts 13 to 19 named storms, of which 6-10 will become hurricanes. Three to five of those would grow into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher. Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. ------------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
National Geographic
a day ago
- Science
- National Geographic
Video shows fireball meteor explode in broad daylight. How rare is this cosmic phenomenon?
People across Georgia on Thursday witnessed an unusual flash of light streaking through the bright blue sky, followed by a thunderous boom that rattled windows. But there were no thunderstorms in the area. The culprit? An exceptionally bright meteor called a fireball. Videos from dashcams and security cameras shared online caught the event, which occurred around 12:24 p.m. EDT on June 26. It was also observed by a lightning detector on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-East satellite, as confirmed by posts on X by NOAA and the NWS Charleston . The event generated more than 200 reports to the American Meteor Society (AMS), the organization in charge of monitoring meteoric phenomena, including a possible meteorite strike on a home in Georgia. But what exactly is a fireball? Here's why it's so unusual to see one in the light of day. What is a fireball—and how rare are they really? Every day, space rocks called meteoroids bombard the Earth. These rocks come from comets, asteroids, or even the moon or other planets and range in size from a speck of dust (most common) to a small asteroid (very rare). NASA estimates some 48.5 tons of meteoritic material enters the atmosphere daily. (What's the difference between an asteroid and a comet?) However, that's where the fates of these rocks can diverge. If a meteoroid enters the atmosphere and burns up, it's called a meteor. But if a meteor reaches the surface of Earth, it becomes a meteorite. Fireballs are a less common type of meteor—they earn that designation when they appear brighter than Venus in the night sky. While thousands of fireballs fall on the Earth each day, most happen over the ocean or uninhabited areas, or they occur during daylight hours and are drowned out by daylight. That's what makes the Georgia event much rarer. "Daytime fireballs are rarer to see because the sun outshines the meteor in most cases. Only the largest objects will be seen, and there are fewer of these," says Hankey. According to Hankey, AMS receives reports of daytime fireballs between five and 10 times per year. How fireballs become meteorites and cause sonic booms Given their larger size, fireballs often don't burn up completely as they travel through the atmosphere, and their debris will strike the Earth as meteorites. Those meteorites generally cannot be seen for the last nine to 12 miles of their descent—what AWS calls their 'dark flight ' period—as they lose their light as they decelerate. ('Alien' minerals never found on Earth identified in meteorite.) As for the window-rattling boom accompanying a fireball, that's likely a sonic boom . Meteors enter the atmosphere at speeds ranging from 20,000 to 160,000 miles per hour. When an object surpasses the speed of sound—around 760 miles an hour at sea level—it builds up so much pressure that this releases a large sound wave as a ' sharp release of pressure .' What to do if you see a fireball If you think you've witnessed a fireball, you can submit a report to AMS to help them confirm the event. "We can usually validate a fireball sighting with five or more eyewitness reports. The data submitted can be mathematically joined, and we can produce a meteor track from the observations," Hankey says. With 20 or more reports, the team can determine a reasonably accurate track, while videos of a fireball provide even better information. "These can be used to refine the track and gauge the velocity and magnitude," says Hankey. This can help determine whether not the meteor belongs to a meteor shower, or narrow down the area where a meteorite might have fallen. Magazine for all ages starting at $25/year
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Is ‘Alligator Alcatraz' detention centre funded by Florida hurricane money?
Florida and federal officials announced the state will build a new immigration detention facility dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz' in the Everglades – an area of wetlands in the south of the state. Because the facility will be partly funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), some Floridians are worried it will affect hurricane relief funds. Homeland Security's Secretary Kristi Noem 'is using FEMA funds to build her Alligator Alcatraz concentration camp in Florida. At the beginning of hurricane season', reads a June 23 X post, 'when we can't pay our bills or fund meals for kids and the elderly.' Another June 23 X post reads: 'Florida's building 'Alligator Alcatraz' by diverting FEMA shelter funds meant for housing and aid. They're not protecting anyone, they're stealing emergency relief money to build detention centers in a swamp. Cruelty is always the point.' These claims come after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a more-active-than-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The claims also follow President Donald Trump saying he wants to eliminate FEMA and have states handle preparation and response to hurricanes and other disasters. NPR reported that FEMA appears less ready to respond to disasters under Trump because of a management shake-up, employee departures and the cancellation of a programme that helped with disaster relief. The 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility gets its nickname from Alcatraz, the former maximum-security prison island in San Francisco Bay known for its isolation, security and minimal inmate privileges. The 'Alligator' part is because the 39-square-mile facility will be located remotely in the Everglades, a swampy region surrounded by alligators and pythons, where 'there's nowhere to go, nowhere to hide', according to a June 19 video posted by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. The facility would be six miles north of Everglades National Park. Governor Ron DeSantis's office told PolitiFact the facility will use temporary buildings and shelters similar to those used during natural disasters. The location will be the abandoned Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, which has an existing airstrip. The state will use the site under the governor's emergency powers. The Department of Homeland Security posted on June 23 on X that the facility is among its efforts to 'deliver on the American people's mandate for mass deportations. Alligator Alcatraz will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida.' The government will allocate some FEMA funds to the facility, but it will not use disaster relief funds. The Florida Division of Emergency Management will build the facility for people arrested by Florida law enforcement for immigration law offences. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) programme delegates to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specific immigration functions. Immigrants arrested in other states could also be transferred to the facility under Florida's custody. How FEMA will fund 'Alligator Alcatraz' A Noem spokesperson told PolitiFact on June 24 that the new Florida immigration detention facility will largely be funded by FEMA's Shelter and Services Program. Information about that programme is no longer available on FEMA's website, but a DHS spokesperson told us that FEMA has roughly $625m in that programme's funds that can be allocated to build the 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility. The DHS spokesperson also said that Florida will initially pay for the facility, and then will submit a reimbursement request to FEMA and DHS. DHS said the facility's total cost will be approximately $450m for one year. It is expected to open 30 to 60 days after construction, which started on June 23, according to The New York Times. It will open with 500 to 1,000 beds and is expected to have 5,000 beds by early July. Congress approved FEMA's Shelter and Services Program in fiscal year 2023 to give money to state and local governments and nonprofit organisations that provide migrants with temporary shelter, food and transportation. The programme uses money Congress gave Customs and Border Protection, and is administered by FEMA. Before then, including during the Trump administration, migrants received help through another FEMA programme, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which is for people facing homelessness and hunger. FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, which is primarily used after natural disasters, is funded separately by Congress. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump falsely claimed the Biden administration was stealing millions from FEMA's disaster aid fund to help migrants. The Shelter and Services Program funding does not come at disaster victims' expense. PolitiFact previously reported that in fiscal year 2024, which started in October 2023 and ended in September 2024, Congress directed US Customs and Border Protection to give FEMA $650m for the Shelter and Services Program. From fiscal years 2021 to 2024, Congress allocated about $1.5bn combined for both the Shelter and Services Program and the Emergency Food and Shelter program. The Trump administration stopped funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter program. 'Alligator Alcatraz' is just one of the ways Florida is planning to detain, process and deport immigrants illegally in the US. Earlier this year, Florida offered to build immigration detention sites. The state's 'Immigration Enforcement Operations Plan' says it identified several locations in the northeastern and south-central regions of the state that could serve as detention centres. The report said that to make the detention and deportation process 'seamless', the locations 'are typically' near airstrips. DeSantis said during a June 25 press conference that Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, a training base for the Florida National Guard, soon will be formally announced as an immigration detention facility.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Northern lights will be visible tonight. Here's what that means for Arizona
The northern lights may be visible across parts of the U.S. on Monday, June 2, and potentially on Tuesday, June 3, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While visibility will be limited for much of the country, states near the Canadian border will have the best chances of seeing the aurora borealis. Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan are most likely to experience the aurora. Visibility is expected to decrease on Tuesday, especially outside of Alaska. If you live farther south — looking at you, Arizona — your invite to the aurora party got lost in the magnetic mail. Here is everything to know where the northern lights be visible. While visibility will be low for most of the country, Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have the highest chances of seeing the light show. There's even a slight possibility the aurora could stretch as far south as Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska Monday night. By Tuesday, visibility outside of Alaska drops, but some northern states could still catch a faint glimpse if skies are clear. The best time to view the northern lights tonight, Monday, June 2, is between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. This window offers the darkest skies, enhancing the visibility of the aurora borealis. Peak activity is anticipated around midnight, though exact timing can vary based on your location and local conditions. Once again, Arizona's left off the northern lights guest list, the northern lights will not be visible in Arizona tonight. The best months to see the northern lights are September through March, with peak viewing typically occurring in the heart of winter, from December to February. The northern lights are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with Earth's atmosphere. When the sun releases a burst of energy, known as a solar wind or coronal mass ejection, these particles travel through space and interact with Earth's magnetic field, according to Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Follow @tiffsario on Instagram. Looking for the best things to do in Arizona? Sign up for our newsletter. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here's where the northern lights will be visible tonight
