A fireball meteor blazed through the atmosphere of Earth, lighting up the Japanese skies over Kyushu and Shikoku with a dazzling blue radiance. Fukuoka Airport’s cameras recorded the unusual spectacle, gaining global attention on social media.
Multiple videos of the meteor racing through the sky went viral on social media in no time, entralling spectators with the dramatic sight.
Meteor Activity in Japan
Locals from Aomori Prefecture in north-east Japan saw another rare celestial phenomenon last week – a “meteoroid cluster.” This uncommon phenomenon, in which several meteors emerge nearly at the same time, happened to coincide with the peak of one of the most active yearly meteor showers, the Perseid meteor shower.
Another view of the meteor/fireball that lit up Kagoshima, Japan tonight…☄️ pic.twitter.com/nyVB2ljyoj
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) August 19, 2025
The Perseids, which are characterized by their fast-moving and spectacular fireballs, are experienced when pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle fall into Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate. They are counted as one of the three primary meteor showers that can be seen yearly.
Meteor/fireball lights up Sakurajima volcano and Kagoshima City in Japan tonight ☄️ pic.twitter.com/WX9NZUwUUg
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) August 19, 2025
What is a Meteor?
Meteors, or “shooting stars,” according to NASA, are fireballs produced when meteoroids are moving at high velocity and enter the atmosphere of Earth or some other planet and burn up. Meteoroids are small pieces of rock in space, ranging in size from dust grains to small asteroids.
Amazing view of the meteor/fireball in Japan tonight. This is the view from Kumamoto City…☄️pic.twitter.com/nHXyNGYm20
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) August 19, 2025
NASA estimates that around 44 tonnes of meteoritic material fall to Earth daily. Almost all of this material vaporizes in the atmosphere, leaving a bright trail visible from the ground – the phenomenon that inspires awe and curiosity worldwide.
Amazing view of the meteor/fireball in Japan tonight. This is the view from Kansai airport…pic.twitter.com/q9zQfUvD7T
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) August 19, 2025
Meteor showers come every year or at regular periods when Earth travels through trails of dusty debris the comets have left behind. These showers are usually called after the star or constellation in which the meteors seem to appear in the sky.
The most popular of these are the Perseids, which continue to be the most famous, entrancing skygazers worldwide with their show of blazing fireballs.
Also Read: PM Modi’s Interaction With Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Showcases India’s Space Ambitions, WATCH NOW
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
