fireball atlanta georgia
© Garrett ThriftFOX 5 viewer Garrett Thrift took a photo of the fireball seen in the sky across metro Atlanta June 26, 2025
Officials across the Southeast say they are investigating reports of a "fireball" seen in the sky Thursday afternoon.

Ball of fire, meteor or earthquake?

What we know:

According to the National Weather Service, radar could not fully track the object due to its altitude and speed, and satellite imagery — which updates only every few minutes — missed it. However, the Global Lightning Mapper (GLM), an instrument designed to detect lightning flashes in the upper atmosphere, registered the event. The object's entry into the atmosphere created a flash similar to lightning, allowing the GLM to capture data showing the event over eastern metro Atlanta.


Meteorologists with the National Weather Service report a radar imagery revealed distinct signatures typically associated with falling meteorites.
meteor fireball atlanta
© NOAALightning sensors on multiple NOAA GOES weather satellites pick up a fireball over Georgia on June 26, 2025.
Witnesses from as far south as Macon and as far north as Upstate South Carolina reported a bright flash in the sky. Moments later, many said they felt what appeared to be an earthquake — though officials have since attributed the shaking to a sonic boom.

The U.S. Geological Survey did not show any earthquake activity in Georgia at the time of the boom.

One of the most dramatic reports came from Henry County, where Emergency Management officials said a resident called to report that a rock had fallen through their ceiling around the same time the flash was observed. According to the agency, the object penetrated the roof and ceiling before cracking the laminate flooring and coming to rest inside the home.

Atlanta meteor?

Local perspective:

The reports of a loud boom, shaking and rumbling from residents across the metro Atlanta area started at around 12:20 p.m. Multiple radar images indicate the debris fell in the area of Blacksville, Georgia, just south of the Home Depot distribution center off Highway 20 in Henry County.
meteor possible debris field atlanta ga
This radar image shows the debris field associated with possible space debris landing southeast of Atlanta in Blacksville, Georgia on June 26, 2025.
Big picture view:

An official in Rockdale County shared a video of what appeared to be a streak of fire falling from the sky. Officials believe it may be a meteor or other space debris.

FOX Weather reports that the American Meteor Society website received over 100 reports of a possible fireball.

The National Weather Service in Charleston said that its satellite-based lightning detection showed a streak in the sky over the NC/VA border, close to Gasburg, Virginia.

WHNS reports that officials in Anderson County, South Carolina are looking for a possible crash site in the Upstate region of the state.

The South Carolina news source said reports have been made in Spartanburg County, Greenville County and Anderson County.

Georgia meteor

What they're saying:

Henry County Emergency Management Agency director confirmed that an object caused damage to a home in the McDonough area, not far from Blacksville.
meteor fireball debris atlanta georgia
© Henry County Emergency Management AgencyThe Henry County Emergency Management Agency reports a home was struck by unusual debris which could be linked to a fireball seen across the Southeast on June 26, 2025.
"Although I can't confirm this is from a meteor, there is unusual damage to the home," the director said. "A piece of debris entered through the shingles and made it through the ceiling and hit the floor."

The EMA is continuing to assess the situation.

What was the fire ball in the sky?

What we don't know:

The exact nature of the falling object and where it landed is not known at this time.

What you can do:

The exact nature and origin of the object remain under investigation.