A bolide is a term used to describe an exceptionally bright meteor, often one that explodes in the atmosphere. These fireballs undergo a catastrophic breakup or detonate before reaching the ground. This explosion, or “airburst,” can produce a brilliant flash and sometimes a loud sonic boom.
NARIT explained that a bolide can be as bright as the full moon, with an apparent magnitude of -14. It usually occurs about 80 to 120 kilometres above the Earth, making it visible across vast areas such as Thailand’s central and eastern regions.
The Orionids are caused by cosmic debris left behind by Halley’s Comet (formally known as 1P/Halley). The Earth passes through this stream of debris every year between October 2 and November 7, so the bolide seen early Sunday could have been one of the meteors from the Orionid shower.