What is a bolide?
A bolide is a bright meteor that explodes or fragments as it travels through the Earth’s atmosphere. It often emits a momentary, intense light—sometimes brighter than the Moon—and can leave a short-lived, glowing trail that fades quickly after the flash.
Eyewitness reports from Estrie to Maine
According to multiple accounts, a vivid bolide illuminated the evening sky just before 7 p.m. local time on Sunday. Observations came from southern Maine in the United States and stretched across Quebec’s Estrie region, with sightings also noted on the Côte-Nord coast. Several observers described a long, luminous streak with a brief tail, followed by a bright flash as the meteor burned up in the upper atmosphere.
Why this sighting stood out
Bolides are relatively rare compared to ordinary meteors. Their intense light, color changes (sometimes greenish or orange hues), and the speed at which they disintegrate make them memorable. A bolide’s trail can be visible across a wide area, which helps explain why reports emerged from communities separated by hundreds of kilometers that evening.
How to verify and report
To advance scientific understanding, observers are encouraged to report their sightings to organizations that track meteors. If you saw the bolide, you can submit your observation to the American Meteor Society (AMS) or the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). Include details such as the time, location, direction of travel, duration, color changes, and any tail features. Photos or short videos are helpful but not required.
Could a meteorite have survived?
In rare cases, fragments of a bolide survive atmospheric passage and reach the ground as meteorites. If you believe you might have found a piece, handle it carefully, record the exact location, and contact local authorities or a university astronomy department. Reputable meteorite finds can contribute valuable data to science.
What caused a fireball over such a wide area?
Most fireballs originate from debris left by comets or asteroids. The broad visibility across Maine, Estrie, and Côte-Nord suggests the bolide disintegrated relatively high in the atmosphere, scattering bright fragments and a luminous tail that remained visible for several seconds to observers spread across the region.
Public interest in night-sky events
sightings like this capture community imagination and spark interest in astronomy. Local observatories and amateur astronomy groups may organize public star-gazing sessions in the days to come, weather permitting, to celebrate and learn from such spectacular celestial events.
Conclusion
Sunday’s bolide serves as a reminder that the night sky still holds surprises for observers across Estrie and neighboring regions. By reporting observations, the public helps scientists map meteoroid activity and deepens our understanding of near-Earth space.
