1999 Leonid Fireball . ... How can something so small generate so much light? ... In the high-speed collisions with air molecules , electrons are stripped from atoms as meteroid material is blasted away. When the electrons recombine with the atoms, light is emitted. This dramatic example of a brilliant 1999 Leonid meteor was photographed while tracking the stars in partly foggy skies on November 18, from a location near Dagali, Norway. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . ...