What are fireballs?

A fireball is like a super-powered balloon that’s full of hot air and light.

Imagine you’re blowing up a balloon, but instead of just air, you're putting in fire, really bright, really hot fire. That's what makes a fireball so cool! It shines really brightly, like the sun, and it moves through the sky, sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

Fireballs are created when something big burns up in the air, kind of like how a match burns out when you light it. The burning thing is usually made of rock or metal, and as it burns, it gives off a lot of light and heat, making it look like a glowing ball.

If you've ever been near a campfire on a cold night, you know how warm and bright it can be. A fireball is kind of like that, but way bigger! It’s so hot that sometimes you can even hear it crackling as it moves through the sky, just like a big, loud campfire in the middle of the air.

Sometimes they’re so bright, they light up the whole night, like having a giant flashlight in the sky!