Sen captured a rare bolide — a meteor that explodes in mid-air — on its continuous 4K ISS feed on Nov. 10. The flash occurred over the North Pacific Ocean at about 8:45 a.m. EST and can be accompanied by a sonic boom. Sen, launched earlier this year, runs a 24/7 stream of Earth and space and says viewers can follow its channels for more footage; this may be among the first bolide explosions filmed from orbit.
Rare Bolide Explosion Caught Live From Space — ISS 4K Feed Records Meteor Flash Over North Pacific
Sen captured a rare bolide — a meteor that explodes in mid-air — on its continuous 4K ISS feed on Nov. 10. The flash occurred over the North Pacific Ocean at about 8:45 a.m. EST and can be accompanied by a sonic boom. Sen, launched earlier this year, runs a 24/7 stream of Earth and space and says viewers can follow its channels for more footage; this may be among the first bolide explosions filmed from orbit.
02:42 AM, 11/12/2025Science
Rare Bolide Explosion Captured Live from the International Space Station
For what observers say may be one of the first recorded instances, a bright meteor explosion — called a bolide — was captured live on camera from space. The event was recorded on the morning of Nov. 10 by live-streaming company Sen on its continuous 4K feed from the International Space Station (ISS).
The burst appeared over the North Pacific Ocean at about 8:45 a.m. EST. In the clip, the bolide produces a sudden bright flash; such explosions can sometimes be accompanied by a sonic boom heard on the surface.
What Is a Bolide?
A bolide is a meteor that breaks apart and detonates in the atmosphere, producing a bright flash and, occasionally, an audible shock. The explosion happens when a fast-moving space rock compresses and rapidly heats the air in front of it, causing structural failure and an energetic breakup.
If fragments survive the aerial breakup and reach Earth, they are known as meteorites. In this case, the explosion occurred over open ocean, so any surviving fragments would likely fall into the sea.
About the Feed and the Recording
Sen, founded earlier this year, operates a 24/7, 4K video stream from the ISS that continuously monitors Earth and its near-space environment. The company shared the clip on its channel and encouraged viewers to follow its social feeds for more footage of transient space events.
Observers and Sen note this recording may be among the earliest instances of a bolide explosion filmed from orbit, offering a valuable perspective for researchers and the public alike.
Source credit: Original clip and reporting credited as "Watch: Rare meteor explosion caught on live stream from space." Follow Sen for additional space footage captured on their 24/7 stream.