Real events · Fireball · 30 January 2026

Fireball: South Pacific, off New Zealand's South Island

Satellite view of the area · Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics

On 30 January 2026 at 10:25 UTC, US government sensors recorded a bright fireball. Location: South Pacific, off New Zealand's South Island.

0.12 ktImpact energy

89.0 kmBurst altitude

~0.5 mEstimated size

Updated 19 October 2026 · All times are UTC.

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Key facts

Time: 30 January 2026, 10:25 UTC
Impact energy: 0.12 kt
Radiated energy: 3.4 × 10¹⁰ J
Burst altitude: 89.0 km
Speed: 71.1 km/s
Estimated size: ~0.5 m
Coordinates: -45.00, 174.50
Source: NASA/JPL CNEOS

What the simulator shows

NASA puts the impact energy at 0.12 kilotons of TNT. A stony body about 0.5 m across at 71.1 km/s carries that energy, and that is the scenario the simulator loads. The object exploded 89.0 km above the surface. No town lies within 150 km of the point.

This is a simplified model, not a damage report. Real effects depend on soil, buildings, terrain and the details of the event.

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