Meteors are usually over quickly
Most visible meteors last less than a few seconds and cross a noticeable angle of sky rapidly. An object that remains visible for a minute is much more likely to be an aircraft or satellite unless the observer is describing a persistent trail rather than the luminous object itself.
Blinking shifts the evidence toward aircraft
Repeating strobes or alternating red and green lights are strong aircraft clues. Meteors may flare or fragment, but the brightness changes are irregular and happen over a much shorter interval.
A bright fireball can still fool distance perception
Large meteors can appear to descend behind nearby hills or buildings even when they are tens of kilometers high and far away. Sky Event Radar uses any nearby CNEOS large-fireball record as supporting evidence without treating missing CNEOS data as proof against an ordinary meteor.
Live aircraft context is decisive when available
When the event is happening now, ADS-B positions near the observer can be compared with the reported direction. The result reports concrete nearby candidates rather than simply adding an abstract aircraft score.
Verify it with data
Use the Sky Event Radar checker with the actual location and time. The result can compare the observation pattern with modeled weather, current aircraft when applicable, NASA/JPL large-fireball records, NOAA aurora context, launch timing and local sky geometry. Missing feeds remain explicitly unknown.
Build my evidence report →