A rare daytime sky event startled parts of the northeastern United States after a large meteor entered the atmosphere and exploded with a loud boom over Massachusetts.
Witnesses reported a bright fireball appearing briefly in the sky, followed seconds later by a cannon-like blast. The shockwave-like vibrations were felt across areas including Boston, Cape Cod, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, leading some residents to suspect an earthquake.
NASA and the American Meteor Society said the object was a space rock about three feet wide and of significant weight. It entered Earth’s atmosphere at around 120,000 kmph and broke apart at an altitude of about 64 km, unable to withstand intense air friction.
Scientists confirmed the event after the advanced GOES-19 satellite captured a strong atmospheric flash over the southern coastal area of Boston. Local police and fire officials said the meteor disintegrated high in the atmosphere and caused no injuries or damage on the ground.
