Early on Nov. 8, residents in Volusia and Flagler counties saw bright, "Roman‑candle"‑like streaks cross the sky and recorded the event. Witness David Tucker filmed the trail around 6:17 a.m. and later reported hearing a loud boom. Embry‑Riddle professor Dean Oswalt and American Meteor Society coordinator Robert Lunsford say the display was most likely reentering space debris — such as a spent rocket body or satellite — which burns more slowly and fragments more than a typical meteor. Readers who captured images or video are asked to send them to sgardner@news-jrnl.com.
Fiery, "Roman‑candle" Streaks Light Up Volusia and Flagler Skies — Experts Point to Reentering Space Debris
Early on Nov. 8, residents in Volusia and Flagler counties saw bright, "Roman‑candle"‑like streaks cross the sky and recorded the event. Witness David Tucker filmed the trail around 6:17 a.m. and later reported hearing a loud boom. Embry‑Riddle professor Dean Oswalt and American Meteor Society coordinator Robert Lunsford say the display was most likely reentering space debris — such as a spent rocket body or satellite — which burns more slowly and fragments more than a typical meteor. Readers who captured images or video are asked to send them to sgardner@news-jrnl.com.
14:36, 09.11.2025Science
Bright, Roman‑candle‑like trail startled early‑morning observers
Early on Nov. 8, residents across Volusia and Flagler counties looked up as a bright, fiery streak crossed the predawn sky. Several people captured the display on video and photos, then shared their footage with local reporters.
One witness, David Tucker of Ormond Beach, a former News‑Journal photographer, was outside having coffee at about 6:17 a.m. when he filmed the lights moving overhead. "It kind of looked like a Roman candle or something when I first saw it," Tucker said. He watched the trail sweep across the sky until it vanished, and a few minutes later he heard a loud boom.
Experts: likely reentering space debris
After reviewing Tucker's video, Dean Oswalt, professor of physics and astronomy at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, told reporters via text that the event was "definitely space junk." Oswalt noted that distinguishing space debris from a natural meteor can be challenging but offered clues:
"If it lasted a long time, was very bright and appeared to break apart into streaks and separate pieces, it was probably a piece of space junk. These objects tend to be larger, burn more slowly and disintegrate in stages, creating a longer, more fragmented show than a typical meteor."
Robert Lunsford, fireball program coordinator for the American Meteor Society, agreed that the sighting most likely involved reentering man‑made debris. "The object seen over Florida this morning was not a fireball. It was most likely the reentry of a spent rocket body from one of the recent launches," Lunsford wrote. "Another possibility is the reentry of a satellite. These reentries are common and are often mistaken for fireballs. Real fireballs enter the atmosphere at very high speed and are seldom visible for more than a few seconds; space debris typically enters more slowly and can be visible for a minute or longer."
If you witnessed the streaking lights or captured photos or video, send them to sgardner@news-jrnl.com.
This article originally appeared in The Daytona Beach News‑Journal.