March 9, 2026
2 my read
Add us on GoogleAdd SciAm
Amazing video shows a huge fireball burning over Europe
A large, bright meteor fell over Europe on Sunday, and some observers said they could hear the rock’s explosive descent from the ground
A massive fireball streaked through the evening sky over Europe on Sunday, showering at least one German city with debris and sparking an investigation into the size of the object.
The European Space Agency’s Planetary Defense team, which is leading the investigation, provisionally estimates that the fireball was a few meters in diameter. Apparently, the incident was audible from the ground, and the fireball glowed visibly for about six seconds. Falling debris from the meteor damaged a house, according to the agency, but no injuries were reported.
On supporting science journalism
If you like this article, please consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribes. By purchasing a subscription, you help secure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas that shape our world today.
By comparison, a large meteor that fell over Chelyabinsk Oblast in Russia in 2013 was 18 meters in diameter. It exploded during its descent about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) above the ground, showering the surrounding area with debris and triggering a shock wave that broke the windows of houses and injured many. Scientists estimated it had the same explosive power as about 440,000 tons of TNT, according to NASA.
Because of the timing of Sunday’s event and the direction the meteor was traveling in when it fell, the European Space Agency does not believe any of the large telescope surveys designed to scan for these objects would have caught it.
It is unclear where the fireball came from; these falling space rocks are often debris from passing comets and asteroids. When these rocks enter the Earth’s atmosphere at speed, they burn up – the bigger the rock, the brighter it burns. If any pieces of a meteor survive the journey through the atmosphere to hit the ground, it becomes a meteorite. Unless they are very large, meteors usually break apart in the atmosphere, as the fireball over Europa did on Sunday.
It’s time to stand up for science
If you liked this article, I would like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in its two-century history.
I have been one Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I see the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does for you too.
If you subscribe to Scientific Americanyou help ensure our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten laboratories across the United States; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself is too often not recognised.
In return, you receive important news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-see videos, challenging games, and the world of science’s best writing and reporting. You can even give someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science is important. I hope you will support us in that mission.
