Meteor Causes Loud Boom Across Southern New England
A meteor approximately three feet wide created a loud explosion heard across Rhode Island and Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon, according to reports from the American Meteor Society and NASA.
A loud noise attributed to a meteor was reported by residents across Southern New England around 2:10 PM on Saturday. The American Meteor Society revealed that the meteor, estimated to be 3 feet in diameter, entered Earth's atmosphere near the Massachusetts/New Hampshire state line and disintegrated before reaching the ground.
NASA confirmed the fireball meteor sighting at 2:06 PM EDT, noting it traveled at approximately 75,000 mph and fragmented at an altitude of 40 miles over northeast Massachusetts and southeast New Hampshire. The explosion released energy comparable to that of 300 tons of TNT, explaining the loud booms heard by many residents, some of whom reported house shaking.
NOAA's GOES satellite detected a significant flash in Massachusetts Bay, consistent with the meteor's explosion. Unlike standard meteors, which are typically the size of grains of sand and go unnoticed, this larger meteor made a considerable impact on the area's atmosphere. It is confirmed that this object did not collide with the Earth's surface, as it disintegrated before reaching it. This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.