SKY Β· FIREBALLS & REENTRIES Β· PUERTO RICO

Did You See a Fireball Over San Juan?

If a brilliant streak just crossed the sky over San Juan, it was almost certainly one of two things β€” a natural meteor (a fireball, gone in seconds) or a human-made object falling back to Earth (a reentry, slower and often breaking apart). Here's what's recently been recorded near San Juanand what's predicted to come down soon, plus how to tell which you saw.

FIREBALL vs REENTRY Β· SAN JUAN
A meteor lasts1–5 seconds
A reentry laststens of seconds
Your latitude18.5Β°
Fragments?reentry, often

A single fast flash = meteor; a slow, drawn-out glow with several pieces = a reentry.

From San Juan, at a fairly low latitude, you sit under the ground tracks of a wide range of orbits, so reentry trails are geometrically possible from many objects. Most reentries still happen over ocean or empty land β€” it's a big planet.

What's recorded near San Juan β€” and what's coming down

Computed for San Juan: the bright fireballs recently logged nearest you, and the objects predicted to reenter whose orbit can cross your latitude. For your exact spot you can also use your precise location β€” it never leaves your device.

WAS IT A METEOR OR A FALLING SATELLITE?

Checking the sky record…

Reading the live reentry watch list and the recent fireball record near you.

San Juan right now

If what you saw is still up there and moving steadily, the identifier and tonight's bright passes will name it.

More sky over San Juan

SEE IT ON THE MAP

Watch satellites and decaying objects move across the live globe.

Open the live satellites layer β†’