FIREBALL

Fireball near Christchurch, New Zealand

Map: Fireball near Christchurch, New Zealand

A fireball, a small asteroid burning up in the atmosphere, exploded about 221 km (137 mi) southeast of Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 10:25 UTC, about 89 km (55 mi) up. U.S. government sensors measured its energy at about 120 tons of TNT, and it was traveling at 71.1 km/s (159,051 mph). Explosions this high up rarely cause damage on the ground.

Energy120 t TNT
Altitude89 km · 55 mi
Speed71.1 km/s
Location45.0°S 174.5°E
Time (UTC)Jan 30 10:25
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How big was it?

Most fireballs come from rocks a meter or a few meters across. The 2013 Chelyabinsk fireball over Russia, about 440 kilotons, was the largest in a century; it shattered windows across the city. Most land over the ocean, unseen.

Data: NASA JPL CNEOS fireball reports, from U.S. government sensors.

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