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A massive meteor streaked across Texas on Sunday evening, briefly lighting up the night before burning up as it entered the atmosphere.
The fireball entered the atmosphere over Cistern, Texas, about 45 miles southeast of Austin, and ended just a few miles south of the state capital, according to the American Meteor Society.
Hundreds of reports of the meteor came in across central Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
The fireball burned up after entering the atmosphere over central Texas. (Armando Peña Jr. via Fox 7 Austin)
Several thousand meteors fall to Earth each day, but most are the size of pebbles and occur over oceans, uninhabited areas, or during the day.
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A fireball is simply a meteor that is bright enough to be visible to the naked eye.
The fireball lit up the night sky for just a few seconds before burning up. (Armando Peña Jr. via Fox 7 Austin)
“Several witnesses near the flight path reported hearing a funny sonic boom, indicating that this fireball may have survived to the lower atmosphere,” wrote Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society.
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This fireball was likely part of the Alpha Capricornus meteor shower that peaked on July 31.
Jonathan Moore of Fox News contributed to this report.
Paul Best is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Paul.best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest.
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