Videos shared on social media captured the fiery objects traveling slowly over several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee, igniting curiosity and speculation.

The phenomenon, which was observed by many, is suspected to be space debris rather than meteors from the ongoing Ursid meteor shower.

Experts suggest that the sighting could be linked to Starlink satellite 3288, which is believed to have burned up during its re-entry into the atmosphere.

Previous similar sightings have been reported, including incidents in Pennsylvania in October and California just the week prior.

On December 21, 2024, at around 10 p.m. CT, thousands of residents across the Southeastern United States reported seeing a brilliant streak of light in the sky.

Initial online speculation also suggested that the debris might originate from a Chinese space satellite predicted to break apart on the same evening.

Footage shared online depicted the fiery streak breaking apart before disappearing from view.

Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or damage related to the sighting.

This incident has sparked discussions about satellite reentries and their visible effects in the night sky.

Despite the various theories, no official confirmation has been provided regarding the source of the observed debris.

While the exact origin of the fireballs remains uncertain, similar sky events are often attributed to satellites, particularly from the Starlink constellation, during their reentry.

Starlink satellite 3288 was launched on December 18, 2021, and is no longer visible on NORAD's satellite tracker.