Abolide Sighting Across the Estrie Sky
On Sunday evening, a rare astronomical event lit up the skies for witnesses across a broad swath of North America, from Maine in the United States to Côte-Nord and the Estrie region in Quebec. Descriptions from observers indicate a bright bolide—a meteor so luminous that it can briefly outshine the Moon—racing across the night sky shortly before 7 p.m. Local residents, astronomers, and casual skywatchers alike paused to look up, sharing accounts of a sudden, brilliant streak followed by a lingering glow. While such events are remarkable, they are also becoming more commonly reported, thanks to social media and dedicated fireball-reporting networks.
What is a bolide?
A bolide is a large and exceptionally bright meteor. When a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it burns up due to friction, producing the dramatic light show known as a meteor. If the object is particularly large or produces a sustained, luminous trail, observers may describe it as a bolide or fireball. Depending on the size and speed, some bolides survive to reach the ground as meteorites, though most disintegrate in the atmosphere long before any impact is possible.
Witness accounts roll in from multiple regions
Across the Maine border and into eastern Canada, witnesses reported seeing a single, bright streak cutting across the sky, followed by a short plume of colored light. In rural Estrie communities, residents described a vivid turquoise-to-green flash that illuminated nearby fields before fading. Several observers noted the event lasted several seconds, allowing ample time for a careful look or a quick photo. Because the sky over this region can be clear and dark, a bolide of this brightness is more likely to be visible over a wide radius, contributing to the breadth of sightings.
What scientists say and how to report
Abolide events are of interest to both professional astronomers and amateur skywatchers. While the exact trajectory and speed of this bolide require corroboration, the pattern of sightings from different locations can help scientists triangulate its path and estimate its brightness. National and regional meteor networks, such as the American Meteor Society and Canada’s meteor-observing communities, welcome reports from the public. If you observed the event, you are encouraged to submit details including your location, time, and any photos or videos. Even imperfect or partial observations contribute to a clearer picture of the event’s trajectory and energy release.
What to expect next and how to observe
Bright meteor displays often occur alongside meteor showers or sporadic meteors associated with comets or asteroid debris. To maximize your chances of future sightings, find a dark-sky spot away from streetlights, give your eyes a few minutes to adjust, and look toward the northern and western skies around sunset. A tripod can help stabilize any photos if you capture a streak. For those with cameras, longer exposure times can reveal multiple streaks if the sky is active, but avoid overexposures that wash out the image. If you missed Sunday’s event, keep an eye on upcoming meteor showers and space-weather briefings that often include visibility maps and peak times.
Why this spectacle matters
Beyond the beauty and wonder, bolide events remind us of the dynamic processes occurring in our solar system. Each observed meteor provides a small data point about the composition and behavior of extraterrestrial material. For communities across the Estrie region and neighboring areas, the event was also a shared moment of curiosity—an opportunity to connect with science and the night sky together under natural lighting conditions that modern cities often deprive us of.
Bottom line
Whether you witnessed the streak firsthand or are curious about what you saw, this Sunday night bolide is a reminder of how small, bright discoveries in the sky can unite observers across borders. As analyses continue and official reports are compiled, the meteor community will piece together the event’s exact path and energy. In the meantime, keep looking up and report any future flashes to the appropriate meteor networks to help scientists map these awe-inspiring visitors from space.
