Meteor Explosion Causes Concern in New England
On Saturday afternoon, a loud double boom and shaking sensation prompted police responses and public concern across New England. The cause has been identified as a meteor entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Explanation from Experts
The American Meteor Society reported that the booms around 2:30 p.m. came from a meteor, approximately 3 feet wide, entering above the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border, north of Boston. Robert Lunsford, a fire program monitor, noted that the phenomenon was experienced from Delaware to Montreal. Witnesses either heard the blasts, felt the ground shake, or observed the meteor’s trail resembling a shooting star in the daytime.
“It was definitely bigger than a normal fireball, about a yard wide.” – Robert Lunsford
Lunsford indicated it was improbable that the meteor hit the ground. To confirm a terrestrial impact, more data on its speed and trajectory would be necessary. He mentioned that most meteors disintegrate before reaching the Earth, suggesting this one likely ended up in the ocean.
Public Reactions and Reports
People across several states reported buildings shaking. Videos shared on the X platform included sounds resembling two rapid booms but lacked visible fire or smoke. Several individuals submitted reports to the U.S. Geological Survey. Despite numerous submissions, the USGS did not register any seismic event related to an earthquake according to agency spokesperson Steve Sobie. An event page was created due to the volume of “Did you feel it?” inquiries, but no earthquake was detected on their seismographs.