A spectacular green fireball illuminated the night sky over New Zealand's North Island on Sunday, astonishing onlookers before breaking apart and vanishing. The celestial event occurred just before 8 p.m., and was observed across at least seven towns.
Fireballs Aotearoa, a group dedicated to tracking and hunting meteorites, confirmed the sighting on social media, describing it as a "very bright green fireball" that traveled from west to east over the upper North Island.
Footage captured by security cameras across New Zealand showed the fireball emerging steadily from the darkness, trailed by a long white tail. As it passed through clouds, the object began to burn an iridescent green and flared brightly against the night sky. The spectacle lasted approximately 15 seconds, with witnesses describing it as "clear as day" and "so long and bright."
Some observers reported seeing the meteor break into about three pieces before fading. The fireball is believed to have disintegrated over the ocean, scattering most of its fragments. The Tauranga Astronomical Society noted that the event broke apart over the water.
According to the American Meteor Society, green fireballs are commonly caused by meteors containing nickel that burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere.