Overview
- The American Meteor Society says early 2026 stands out for frequent, sonic-boom fireballs and unusually large witness counts.
- AMS data show 30 of 38 widely reported cases produced sonic booms, and typical events drew about 67 witnesses even after excluding a massive March 8 sighting in Western Europe.
- Many reconstructed paths point to the Anthelion sporadic source, a broad radiant opposite the Sun, with most traced events clustering in a roughly 1,000–square–degree patch.
- Early lab checks of fragments from Ohio and Germany indicate common HED achondrites, and AMS reports no signs of controlled flight or non-natural material.
- Scientists disagree on what is driving the spike, with some—including NASA—warning that denser populations and easier reporting may explain the rise as researchers continue reconstructions and searches after high-profile falls in Europe, Ohio, and Houston.