A dashcam in North Port, Florida recorded a bright daytime fireball on Nov. 11 that meteorologists say was likely a meteor or burning space debris. The sighting coincides with the Leonids meteor shower, which peaks in mid-November and remains active through Dec. 2. NASA notes Leonids can reach roughly 44 miles per second and often appear as fireballs or Earth-grazers. USA TODAY has contacted NASA for further comment.
Dashcam Captures Bright Daytime Fireball Over North Port, Florida
A dashcam in North Port, Florida recorded a bright daytime fireball on Nov. 11 that meteorologists say was likely a meteor or burning space debris. The sighting coincides with the Leonids meteor shower, which peaks in mid-November and remains active through Dec. 2. NASA notes Leonids can reach roughly 44 miles per second and often appear as fireballs or Earth-grazers. USA TODAY has contacted NASA for further comment.
03:33 AM, 11/13/2025Science
Dashcam Captures Daylight Fireball Over North Port
A vehicle dashboard camera in North Port, Florida recorded a bright daytime fireball on Nov. 11, showing a luminous object burning as it descended toward the ground. The clip, shot by Drew McKinley and shared on social media, quickly drew attention from local meteorologists and viewers.
What was seen: The footage shows a fast-moving, glowing object often described as a "shooting star." Meteorologists at WSVN, the local ABC affiliate, said the object was most likely a meteor, although they noted it could also have been debris or space junk burning up on entry.
Possible connection to the Leonids
The sighting occurred during the annual Leonids meteor shower, which peaks in mid-November. Forecasters and a meteorologist at Gulf Coast News suggested the event could be related to the Leonids. NASA notes that Leonid meteors can travel at roughly 44 miles per second (about 71 kilometers per second), making them among the fastest meteors observed.
Fireballs vs. Earth-grazers
According to NASA, Leonid meteors commonly appear as either fireballs or Earth-grazers. Fireballs are brighter, produced by larger particles of cometary material, and can produce longer-lasting, colorful explosions of light. Earth-grazers skim the upper atmosphere at shallow angles, streak close to the horizon and can leave long, dramatic tails.
The National-level activity from the Leonids is expected to continue through about Dec. 2, with the strongest activity forecast around Nov. 16–17.
USA TODAY has contacted NASA for additional details about the sighting and whether any fragments were recovered.
Report by Michelle Del Rey, USA TODAY. Video credited to Drew McKinley.