A "fireball" is a bright meteor that appears as a streak of light in the sky when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere at high speed. These meteoroids can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a basketball. When they burn up due to friction with the atmosphere, they create a dazzling display that can last from a fraction of a second to several seconds. Fireballs can vary in color and brightness, often depending on their composition and speed. Some fireballs can even explode in the atmosphere, creating a phenomenon known as a bolide. Observers may also report hearing a sound associated with these events, which can be caused by the shockwave produced as the fireball travels through the air.