Mysterious Fireball Lights Up Midwest Sky
A bright fireball put on a dazzling display Tuesday night across several Midwestern states.
Just after 9 p.m., burning debris could be seen streaking west to east across the night sky. The American Meteor Society received 62 reports of a fireball sighting Tuesday night across the Midwest. The reports came from states such as Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.
John Aubert captured video of the fireball against the night sky in Crystal Lake. Jonathan McDowell, a famed astronomer, said the debris appeared to be part of a satellite from SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which was being closely tracked by space agencies.
"If it reentered around 9:03 PM CST, it would have been over Milwaukee, matching the widespread observations from neighboring areas, including Chicago," McDowell stated on X.
The fireball was initially identified as Starlink-5693 re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. While the event was widely visible, no damage was reported during the immediate aftermath, as the satellite likely burned up in the atmosphere.
What Witnesses Saw
Witnesses from six states described what they saw Tuesday night.
"[I] just happened to look up and saw a huge trail of light going across the sky. Broken into many many parts, moving fast. Looked like space debris," one witness wrote in their report.
Witnesses described a fiery streak burning brightly in the sky, with one man saying it was the biggest and longest lasting fireball he had ever seen.
"Bright orange glowing trail with [the] first explosion then five seconds later another orange explosion. Dark immediately afterward," a Wilmington, Illinois resident wrote.
Starlink Satellites
Starlink satellites operate in a low Earth orbit below 600 km [372 miles] altitude. Atmospheric drag at these altitudes will deorbit a satellite naturally in 5 years or less, depending on the altitude and satellite design, should one fail on orbit. SpaceX proactively deorbits satellites that are identified to be at an elevated risk of becoming non-maneuverable.
The constellation is thought to consist of over 6,000 satellites, which provide broadband internet access to rural areas and communities with limited connectivity.
Conclusion
The mysterious fireball that lit up the Midwest sky on Tuesday night was identified as a satellite from SpaceX’s Starlink constellation re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. While the event was widely visible, no damage was reported during the immediate aftermath. The Starlink constellation is designed to provide broadband internet access to rural areas and communities with limited connectivity.
FAQs
Q: What was the fireball that lit up the Midwest sky on Tuesday night?
A: The fireball was identified as a satellite from SpaceX’s Starlink constellation re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Q: Where did the fireball sightings come from?
A: The fireball sightings came from states such as Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.
Q: Did the fireball cause any damage?
A: No, the fireball did not cause any damage during the immediate aftermath, as the satellite likely burned up in the atmosphere.
Q: What is the Starlink constellation?
A: The Starlink constellation is a network of satellites designed to provide broadband internet access to rural areas and communities with limited connectivity.
Q: How many satellites are in the Starlink constellation?
A: The Starlink constellation is thought to consist of over 6,000 satellites.
