Bright Fireball Lights Up Japan's Sky

On the night of August 19, 2025, residents across southern Japan witnessed a spectacular celestial event. A bright fireball, identified by experts as an exceptionally luminous meteor, streaked across the sky, briefly illuminating the night as if it were day.

The phenomenon was observed in various parts of Kyushu and Shikoku shortly after 11 pm. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a glowing ball of light descending through the sky, creating a striking visual display. Many people captured the event on video and shared their experiences on social media.

Toshihisa Maeda, director of the Sendai Space Museum, explained that the fireball was likely caused by dust particles or asteroid fragments entering Earth's atmosphere and burning up. He suggested that the meteor might have fallen into the ocean, and noted that some people reported feeling air vibrations during the event.