A meteor exploded over the southern coast of Massachusetts on May 30, startling residents and creating a loud boom that resonated across the region. The event occurred around 2 PM Eastern Time, with eyewitnesses reporting a bright fireball streaking through the sky.
Approximately 11 minutes after the meteor’s appearance, a powerful explosion was heard, causing windows to shake and pets to become agitated. The sound was reported in Boston and extended to areas like Ipswich and Johnston, Rhode Island.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that satellites detected light signals from the meteor at the time of the explosion. Initial assessments from the American Meteor Society indicated that the meteor entered the atmosphere near Boston’s southern shore.
NASA estimates suggest that the meteor disintegrated in the atmosphere without reaching the Earth’s surface. According to their data, the meteor broke apart at an altitude of about 40 miles over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire, releasing energy equivalent to roughly 300 tons of TNT, which explains the loud noise.
“The meteor appears to have broken into pieces at a height of 40 miles above northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire. The energy released during the breakup is estimated to be equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT, which accounts for the loud noise,” NASA stated.
Sean Edson, a curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, noted that eyewitness accounts and video footage will aid scientists in further studying the meteor. He explained that finding remnants of such celestial objects is rare, as most land on the ocean, where they sink.
“How bright it was, how fast it moved, the angle at which it entered, and how long it remained bright all provide us with a lot of information. It could be part of a single asteroid that broke off, or it might just be one of those small cosmic objects floating in space that we don’t associate with anything we know,” Edson said.
This incident is not isolated; similar occurrences have been reported in North America recently. In March, a meteor exploded over Ohio, creating a sound wave that was heard across several states. Shortly after, another fireball was reported over Texas, with one of its fragments damaging a residential roof.
A meteor exploded over Massachusetts, creating a loud noise and startling residents. Eyewitness accounts and satellite data will help scientists study the event further.
Source: CBS News