This year may seem like an unusually high number of meteorites, as evidenced by the number of fireball events reported across the United States this week.
According to the American Meteor Society, there was a noticeable increase in bolide activity in early 2026, with 10 incidents by mid-March, each with more than 100 reported sightings. Despite the fact that small space objects are constantly colliding with the Earth’s atmosphere, the amount of fireballs reported in 2026 is higher than usual.
Another possible reason is that more people have cameras at hand, from smartphones to doorbell cameras to dashboard cameras, making it faster and easier to record and share these fleeting cosmic events as they occur. This is another possible reason for the apparent increase in the number of meteor sightings.
Compare March’s meteors with last year’s
Large-scale fireball incidents appear to have increased significantly in the first quarter of 2026. According to the American Meteor Society, there were 61 events recorded with a reporting standard of 25 or more, an average of about 43 from 2021 to 2025, an increase of about 42%.
If you can’t see the graphic, click here to view it.
Large fireballs causing sonic booms have occurred more than 30 times, about once every three days. This amount reflects both high total numbers and frequency, due to increased activity from the Anselion sporadic meteor source (a large region of the night sky that produces a steady, low-level meteor stream year-round) and perhaps improved reporting.
March meteor madness
March saw several notable fireball events. More than 200 sighting reports were submitted to the American Meteor Society after the daytime meteor caused a sonic boom that could be heard across Ohio and Pennsylvania. As well as another fireball that flew across the sky during the day near Houston, Texas. Multiple fireballs were reported over California, Oregon, and Washington.
Doorbell camera captures fireball over Ohio
A doorbell camera shows a fireball moving across the sky above Stowe, Ohio.
Thousands of people in eastern Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania heard loud noises that the National Weather Service (NWS) said may have been caused by a meteorite.
Video shows fireball over California
Watch the video of fireballs lighting up the sky
Fireballs were seen streaking the skies over California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Video evidence over the Pacific Northwest
Video shows green fireballs streaking the night sky
A green fireball was seen streaking across the Pacific Northwest sky.
What is it? Meteor, comet, or asteroid?
According to NASA, meteors are space rocks as small as grains of sand or small rocks. When they enter Earth’s atmosphere, they disintegrate and form a tail of debris before reaching the ground. The meteorites that reach the Earth’s surface are small fragments of asteroids. Some can be traced back to Mars and the Moon.
Most meteor showers are named after constellations, stars, and even asteroids.
Want to see more meteorites? Check out the meteor shower calendar
There are a number of significant meteor showers that are expected to peak soon, making it a great opportunity to see more meteors (shooting stars). According to the American Meteor Society and other sources, the most notable upcoming events include:
