A meteor zoomed through the skies near Boston on Saturday, creating a loud boom that startled many in Massachusetts around 2 p.m. Ken Mahan, a meteorologist at the Boston Globe, explained that it was a “bolide meteor,” essentially a large fireball. These meteors travel faster than the speed of sound, creating a shockwave as they move through the atmosphere.
Typically, bolide meteors are about 1 to 2 meters in size, and NASA will provide a size estimate soon. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety confirmed on social media that there were no emergency calls related to the sonic boom.
While the agency hasn’t officially linked the sound to the meteor, they are working with local and federal partners to investigate. John Ebel, a senior scientist at Boston College’s Weston Observatory, shared that the cloudy skies likely hid the meteor from view. He noted that sound waves from meteors usually fade by the time they reach the ground, making this boom unusual.
Ebel ruled out the possibility of it being an earthquake, stating that the atmospheric pressure waves from the meteor were much stronger than any seismic activity he detected. Notably, his earthquake detection system didn’t register any events.
Mahan pointed out that small meteors often enter Earth’s atmosphere without making much noise, but this one was likely larger and faster, producing a sound that echoed across the region. James Ryan, a physics professor at the University of New Hampshire, echoed this sentiment, mentioning satellite images showed a significant shockwave.
He referenced a 2013 incident in Russia, where a similar-sized meteor caused widespread damage. The shockwave from that event shattered windows and damaged buildings, demonstrating how intense these sonic booms can be.
In an age where technology has advanced, tracking meteors and understanding their effects has become easier. However, many still remember the awe of seeing such events, reminding us of our planet’s dynamic nature. If you heard the boom, you’re part of a rare experience that demonstrates the mysteries of space and our atmosphere.
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