Albacete, Spain – On March 17, 2026, at 23:30 local time, a brilliant greenish-white fireball streaked across the night sky, briefly illuminating the landscape below. The meteor descended from high altitude toward the horizon, leaving a long glowing trail visible against the starry backdrop.

Catalogued as SPMN170326M and part of the Virginids meteor shower swarm, the fireball entered the atmosphere at approximately 31 km/s. Its luminous phase began at 99 km altitude over the Sierra del Carche and ended around 30 km south of Albacete near Pozohondo. It reached a peak absolute magnitude of -12±2, making it one of the brightest bolides of the swarm that night.

The Spanish Meteor Network recorded the event from multiple stations across Murcia, Albacete, Granada, and surrounding areas. No fragments were reported to have reached the ground, and no damage was observed.

Observers described the fireball as one of the most spectacular in the Virginids meteor shower, highlighting the rare visibility and impressive brightness of the phenomenon.

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