A meteor zoomed over Massachusetts, creating a loud boom heard throughout the state on Saturday afternoon. It happened around 2:11 p.m., startling many with a jolt that shook windows and even some houses. People reported hearing the sound from as far as Boston to Ipswich and Johnston, Rhode Island.
Witnesses also spotted a brilliant fireball around 2 p.m. According to the American Meteor Society, numerous reports from across the Northeast helped scientists track the meteor’s path through the atmosphere.
NASA’s lightning data confirmed a signature linked to the meteor around the same time the sound occurred, indicating it likely entered over the South Shore near Boston. Thankfully, it seems to have disintegrated before hitting the ground.
Most meteors burn up in the atmosphere, but larger ones can create impressive fireballs and sonic booms. When a meteor falls quickly, it can produce shock waves like those from supersonic jets. Even if you didn’t see the fireball, you could still hear a loud bang due to these pressure waves.
Interestingly, 2026 has seen a series of notable meteor events. In March, another meteor exploded over Ohio, causing a similar sonic boom across several states. Just days later, a meteor in Texas did even more damage, scattering fragments, one crashing into a home’s roof. The American Meteor Society has noted an uptick in such striking fireball events recently.
Furthermore, just before the Massachusetts event, residents in South Carolina experienced a mysterious blast, initially thought to be an earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey later determined it was also a sonic boom, though its source is still being studied.
Experts emphasize that despite these events, there’s no current threat to Earth from meteors. It’s a reminder of the fascinating, dynamic nature of our universe and how it interacts with our planet. Each sighting offers clues about the cosmos, turning everyday moments into extraordinary stories.
For more detailed tracking of meteors, you can visit the American Meteor Society.
Source link
Massachusetts, Meteor
