NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A bright “fireball” meteor lit up the sky over parts of southeast Louisiana early Sunday morning, and some home security cameras caught the whole thing on video.
Viewers reported seeing a bright streak and brief flash around 5 a.m. as the object broke apart high in the atmosphere.
A fireball is an exceptionally bright meteor, also know as a piece of space rock, entering Earth’s atmosphere. They’re more common than many people realize.
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Meteorologists say thousands of fireballs happen every day, but most appear over the ocean or during daylight, when they go unnoticed.
These meteors are bits of natural debris left over from the formation of the solar system. They can enter our atmosphere from any direction and at very high speeds — typically around 67,000 miles per hour as Earth encounters them while orbiting the sun.
This isn’t the first time people in our area have spotted one. Back on March 2, 2026, there were reports of a meteor over Walker and Gonzales.
NASA says so‑called “fireball season” usually runs from February through April, when sightings tend to increase. They’re not sure exactly why, but some astronomers think Earth may be moving through regions with more large debris during that time. Still, fireballs can happen at any time of year — including early this morning over southeast Louisiana.
No damage or impacts have been reported from today’s event. Viewers who captured video or photos are encouraged to share them with our newsroom.
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