Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fireball?
A fireball is a meteor brighter than magnitude −4 (roughly as bright as Venus). These intense events are more likely to be caused by larger meteoroids that can survive atmospheric entry and produce recoverable meteorites.
Read more: From Space Rock to Meteorite: How Meteors Occur →How often do meteorites actually reach the ground?
Scientists estimate that about 5-10 meteorites per day fall to Earth's surface, but the vast majority land in oceans, remote areas, or go unnoticed. Only a handful per year are recovered by people.
Read more: Rarity and Types: What's Common, What's Exceptional →What does a Possible score mean?
A Possible score (70 or above out of 100) means the fireball event exhibited multiple strong signals of meteorite survival — such as a low terminal altitude, slow entry speed, fragmentation, and favorable terrain. These are candidates for closer search planning, not confirmed fall locations.
Read more: How to Read MeteorHound Scores Without Overtrusting Them →Can I actually go search for a meteorite?
Yes! In most jurisdictions, meteorites found on public land belong to the finder. Always check local regulations, get landowner permission for private property, and prioritize safety. Fresh meteorites are often dark with a fusion crust and may be slightly magnetic.
Read more: Meteorhunting 101: How the Hunt Actually Works →How current is the data?
NASA CNEOS data is updated approximately hourly. GMN camera trajectory data is processed daily. Events on MeteorHound are typically visible within 24 hours of occurrence when source feeds are available.
Read more: How to Read NASA CNEOS Fireball Data →Why don't I see any events near me?
Bright fireball events that pass our meteorite-candidate filters are relatively rare — typically a few dozen per month globally. Many occur over oceans or uninhabited regions. Use the "Use my location" feature and subscribe to alerts so you're notified when one happens nearby.
Read more: Which Meteors Survive? Survival Signals That Matter Most →What equipment do I need to search?
A basic search kit includes a GPS device or phone, a strong magnet (most meteorites contain iron), a hiking stick for probing tall grass, ziplock bags for specimens, and sun protection. A metal detector significantly improves your odds for iron-rich meteorites.
Read more: Field Kit and Safety: What to Bring Every Time →How is the approximate planning radius calculated?
The planning radius is estimated from the fireball's duration and terminal altitude. Longer-duration events and lower terminal heights can imply a wider debris field, but MeteorHound shows only a broad planning aid, not a predicted fall location.
Read more: Where to Look: Building a Search Area That Makes Sense →