Alabama residents looking toward the sky Saturday night saw an unusual mix of celestial and human-made sights, including a bright Harvest Moon and a possible fireball.
A meteor crossed the Deep South
The full Harvest Moon provided a bright backdrop as a meteor or fireball streaked across the Deep South around 6:45 p.m. CT, according to meteorologist James Spann.
The sighting brought back memories of a similar fireball seen across Alabama and several neighboring states in June 2025. NASA later determined that object was a bolide, a large meteor that broke apart as it traveled through the atmosphere.
Another flaming object appeared later
Around 10:15 p.m., residents near Cullman and Hartselle reported seeing another bright, flaming object in the sky.
Spann said the sight was most likely connected to a pyrotechnic skydiving display, in which skydivers descend while trailing burning flares. The event was separate from the earlier meteor sighting.
Research balloon also visible over Alabama
A high-altitude research balloon added another unusual sight to the evening. The balloon was spotted over southeastern Alabama near Dothan at an altitude of roughly 62,000 feet.
Despite the number of unusual sights reported across the state, Spann said the events were coincidental and had no connection to one another. The combination made for an especially memorable night for Alabama sky-watchers.
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