On July 16, 2024, at 11:17 a.m., an asteroid crossed the sky above New York City. People as far as Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania reported seeing it and hearing a sonic boom. Despite these sightings, NASA stated that the asteroid, about a foot in length, was too small to survive the descent through Earth’s atmosphere. It was thought to have burned up during its fiery journey.
However, this was not the case for homeowners in Hillsborough, N.J. At 11:20 a.m., a resident experienced a startling event while working from his home office. He felt a massive crash shake the house, similar to the sensation of kitchen cabinets crashing down.
Upon investigating, he discovered a hole in the ceiling above his bedroom. The air had a rotten, sulfur-like smell, mixed with a dust cloud. Black soot coated surfaces throughout the room. On his pillow laid several onyx-colored rocks. The homeowner noted, ‘Good thing I didn’t sleep in.’
The couple, preferring to remain anonymous, later assisted scientists in examining the composition of this unusual asteroid. Their home became a scientific treasure trove, revealing insights into the asteroid’s makeup after its unexpected arrival.