Very bright fireball explodes over southern Brazil

The American Meteor Society (AMS) received over 66 reports from users in Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and the State of Santa Catarina.

Users reported the object disintegrated into three to 15 larger pieces, leaving a trail in the sky. “About two minutes later I heard what sounded like an explosion/thunder,” a witness from Santa Catarina said.

“It wasn’t quick like a shooting star. The tail was long and the head was very large,” another witness from Santa Catarina said.

“I was leaving for a service when I saw this phenomenon, as soon as I arrived at my church I asked other people here in Arroio do Sal and yes, several saw it too but only the flash because they were not on the street at the time it happened, but soon after the flash they heard a bang like thunder,” Kevin from Sal Stream, Rio Grande do Sul said.

Gabriel from Rio Grande do Sul said it was the biggest and brightest fireball he has ever seen. He observed several fragments, with some taking longer to fade into the atmosphere.

Marcelo from Rio Grande do Sul reported seeing a glowing train, initially dark green, then suddenly turning light green and light yellow, accompanied by sounds comparable to a fireworks explosion.

“We were deep in the farm when suddenly, in a matter of moments, the sky split with a very bright and strong light, bursts of white to light blue like something extraordinary, unimaginable to see with the naked eye. The night became day for a few seconds. It was truly something inexplicable! The noise that the light made as it crossed the sky shocked us so much that I was in shock, trembling for some time, without knowing what was happening,” Jarine from Rio Grande do Sul reported.

Users reported observing a bright, white light that transitioned into a blue and green tail, followed by shades of blue, light blue, green, emerald green, yellow, orange, and fragments that appeared orange in color.

References:

¹ Fireball event 2266-2025 – AMS – April 23, 2025