A meteor measuring approximately 5 feet in diameter exploded over Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, on Saturday, creating a sonic boom that startled thousands. NASA confirmed the meteor's mass at 5.6 metric tons and its speed at about 42,000 miles per hour, releasing energy equivalent to 230 tons of dynamite.

• 01The meteor traveled through the atmosphere for 26 miles before breaking apart at an altitude of 31 miles.
• 02Sonic booms from meteors typically occur at higher altitudes, making this event particularly rare.
• 03The meteor is believed to be part of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which peaks in early May.
• 04NASA suggests that fragments of the meteor may be located at the bottom of Cape Cod Bay, which is between 60 and 100 feet deep.
• 05Climate change may influence meteor visibility, as a warmer atmosphere could allow larger meteors to survive longer during entry.

The meteor's explosion may have affected local aquatic life and generated interest in meteorite recovery efforts.