“Fire Trail” Over Delhi-NCR: What People Saw & What It Likely Was
Residents across Delhi-NCR reported a bright, fast-moving “fire trail” in the night sky, with many sharing photos and short videos on social media. The luminous streak appeared for a few seconds before fading, leaving observers wondering if it was a meteor, space debris, or something else.
What eyewitnesses described
- A glowing head with a long, tapering trail
- Movement from one horizon to another in a few seconds
- Occasional breakup into smaller fragments near the end
Most likely explanations
- Meteor (fireball): A small space rock entering Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, heating and glowing as it burns up.
- Re-entering space debris: Deorbiting rocket bodies or satellites can create a slower, fragmenting trail that glows and sheds pieces.
Quick tell: Meteors are usually faster, with a single bright head; re-entries often appear a bit slower and break into multiple glowing fragments over several seconds.
What to do if you see one again
- Step to a safe, open area; avoid looking through glass for long periods.
- Record a short horizontal video including landmarks for scale.
- Note time, direction (e.g., SW→NE), and your approximate location.
- Share with local astronomy groups and submit a report to the International Meteor Organization (IMO) fireball form.
Safety notes
Such sky events are almost always harmless. Avoid chasing rumors; if any object is suspected to have landed, do not touch metallic fragments—inform authorities or a local observatory.
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