Fiery Meteor Lights Up Delhi-NCR Night Sky, Residents Stunned by Rare Bolide Explosion and Social Media Buzz
Residents of Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) are confused by fiery streaks seen over the skies in the early hours of Saturday. They wonder if they are space debris or a meteor shower.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) September 20: On Friday night, a dazzling meteor lighted up the skies over New Delhi. It caused people to be confused. It also creates a wave of excitement on social media.
Many cities, including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Aligarh, were able to witness the brilliant streak of light. It was followed by the meteor shattering in midair.
Viral videos show meteor breaking into bright fragments
Videos of a lightning streak shooting across the night sky before breaking up into tiny bright fragments soon went viral on social media platforms. Some users call the incident one of the brightest meteors they had ever seen. Others describe it to a "shooting star explosion."
One user writes, “Just witnessed this incredible fire streak in the night sky… Looks like a meteor or maybe part of a rocket burning up in the atmosphere nature’s own light show from my rooftop. Did anyone else spot it too?” on social media platform X.
Another user writes, “Midnight spectacle in Greater Noida! Around 1:22 AM, a blazing asteroid lit up the Noida sky, a rare cinematic moment witnessed by locals.”
The brightness was powerful enough to outshine the city lights. It was only visible for a few seconds as per the residents in Delhi NCR. After that, some people reported hearing a slight booming sound. Although no official confirmation is given.
Skywatchers call the sight a once-in-a-lifetime space show. The authorities have not detected any impacts.
Astronomers confirm it was a bolide
According to astronomy specialists, the incident is most likely a bolide. It is a kind of meteor that enters the Earth's atmosphere. It explodes into pieces because of extreme heat and friction. Although meteors are common, it is rare for such a huge crowd to witness a remarkable occurrence.
Experts say no harm expected as rock likely disintegrated before impact
Experts explain that no harm is anticipated because the meteor most likely broke apart before hitting the ground. However, there has been discussion over the size and source of the rock. It is because it produced a loud display due to the event's brightness and spectacular nature. This occurrence is especially more important because September is a time of increased meteor activity as per the American Meteor Society.
Astronomers believe the meteor most likely came from a large rock that entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up dramatically. Bolides occasionally split into several luminous pieces. It is in contrast to ordinary meteors. They usually burn up before hitting the ground.
