A rare phenomenon often associated with or caused by lightning, resembling a luminous ball of fire passing rapidly through the air or along solid objects, then disappearing, and sometimes exploding. It seldom lasts more than a few seconds. Also called ball lightning, globe lightning, globular lightning, or kugelblitz.
a very large and bright meteor which can also often leave a smoke trail.
In Scottish traditions, the name most commonly ascribed to "phantom lights" known as the "gaelghan". The phenomena resembles a globe of light and usually travels very gracefully at high speeds across stretches of water.
A meteor of extreme brightness.
Exceptionally brilliant meteor.
A meteor which is brighter than any planet or star, i.e. brighter than magnitude -4.
an especially luminous meteor (sometimes exploding)
a ball of fire (such as the sun or a ball-shaped discharge of lightning)
a strange phenomenon associated with lightning
A very bright meteor. A fireball is generally considered to be -3 magnitude or brighter. A fireball which appears to burst or explode is called a bolide.
An exceptionally bright meteor. ~ See Also: bolide.
an extremely bright meteor; generally brighter than magnitude –4
An extremely bright meteor. Also known as bolides, fireballs can be several times brighter than the full Moon. Some can even be accompanied by a sonic boom.
a meteor brighter than magnitude -3.
meteor brighter than magnitude -3 flare a sudden eruption of energy on the Sun lasting minutes to hours, from which radiation and particles are emitted.
A spectacular meteor, seen for more than an instant in the sky.
An extremely bright meteor, generally defined as exceeding the magnitude of Venus (mag. -4).
Although occasionally used for any meteor of negative magnitude, this term is usually reserved for much brighter meteors. The International Meteor Organisation defines fireballs as being meteors of magnitude -3 or brighter. The meteor section of the British Astronomical Association on the other hand has a much stricter definition, requiring the meteor to be magnitude -5 or brighter.
A bright meteor with an apparent visual magnitude of -4 mag. or brighter. See also: Meteor, Meteorite, Meteoroid, Persistent train
a bright meteor. Several definitions have been used by various authors. In the IMO's Fireball Data Center (FIDAC) all meteors of at least -3.0 magnitude are stored as fireballs.
A fireball is any meteor that is brighter than Venus (magnitude -4). A sonic boom often follows a fireball and they can cast a shadow. They are caused by millimeter-sized (or bigger) meteoroids disintegrating in the atmosphere.
An extremely bright meteor, also called a bolide.