On the night of August 15, 2017, something extraordinary lit up the skies over Cape Coral, Florida. I caught sight of a blazing orange globe, a fireball that defied all expectations. At first, I thought it might be part of a meteor shower, but its behavior was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Moving swiftly across the Northeast Fort Myers sky, it dipped below the eastern horizon only to reappear, shooting about a third of the way up again before descending rapidly once more.
This fireball was surrounded by a strange aura or haze, casting an eerie glow that made the experience surreal. Unlike a typical meteor streaking with a tail, this orange orb moved with an almost sentient grace, steady and bright. Even the local animals reacted with unease, signaling that this was no ordinary celestial event.
This wasn’t my first encounter. Back in November 2016, a similarly dazzling green fireball swept across the skies from Fort Myers to the east coast of Florida. Both sightings were remarkable in their intensity and mystique, leaving a palpable sense of wonder and curiosity.
These brilliant, tail-less orbs are appearing more frequently, often unexpected and hidden in plain sight. They challenge our understanding of the sky and the phenomena that traverse it. For those of us watching the heavens, nights like these remind us that the universe still holds secrets waiting to be unraveled.