A meteor lit up the sky over Massachusetts recently, causing quite a stir in New England and parts of Canada. This meteor, about 3 feet wide, entered the atmosphere near the New Hampshire border at around 2:06 PM. NASA confirmed it was a natural object, not a satellite or space junk.
Robert Lunsford from the American Meteor Society noted that they received numerous reports from states as far as Delaware and as far north as Montreal. People described hearing a loud double boom, feeling the ground shake, or witnessing a bright fireball—similar to a daytime shooting star. The sound was powerful enough to rattle buildings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Interestingly, a dashcam in New York captured the meteor streaking through the sky. According to Lunsford, this meteor was larger than most, but it’s unlikely it hit the ground. “Most meteors burn up before they reach the surface,” he explained.
NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel mentioned that the meteor was blazing through the atmosphere at an astonishing speed of 75,000 miles per hour and likely broke apart about 40 miles up. The energy released when it disintegrated was equivalent to roughly 300 tons of TNT, which explains the loud booms many experienced.
Many residents took to social media to share their reactions, with videos on platforms like X showing the quick, sharp sounds with no smoke or fire visible. Some even reported the shaking to the U.S. Geological Survey, prompting the agency to create an event page for those who felt it. However, the agency confirmed that there were no seismic readings to indicate an earthquake.
Meteors have been fascinating humanity for centuries. Historical records show that significant meteor events were noted in ancient texts across various cultures, highlighting our long-standing curiosity about these celestial events. Today, technology allows us to not only witness such phenomena in real-time but also share our experiences instantly.
If you’re interested in the science behind meteors, check out more from NASA here.
