Meteor Explosion Creates Sonic Boom Off Massachusetts Coast
Meteor explodes off coast of Massachusetts, causing loud boom
Image: Cbs News
A meteor exploded off the coast of Massachusetts on Saturday, causing a loud boom heard across the state around 2:11 p.m. ET. The explosion rattled windows and startled pets, with reports of sightings stretching across multiple states. Scientists confirmed the meteor likely entered the atmosphere near Boston.
- 01The explosion was reported at approximately 2:11 p.m. ET, with a loud bang felt in areas from Boston to Ipswich and Johnston, Rhode Island.
- 02Preliminary reports indicate that dozens of people in the Northeast observed the fireball around the same time.
- 03The meteor likely entered the atmosphere over the South Shore near Boston, as supported by satellite lightning data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- 04Meteors can create sonic booms when they travel at speeds between 25,000 and 160,000 miles per hour, producing shock waves that reach the ground.
- 05This incident follows a series of notable meteor events in North America, including explosions in Ohio and Texas earlier this year.
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On Saturday afternoon, a meteor exploded off the coast of Massachusetts, creating a loud boom that resonated throughout the state at around 2:11 p.m. Eastern Time. Reports from the WBZ-TV newsroom indicated that the explosion startled residents, rattled windows, and even shook some homes, with calls coming in from Boston to Ipswich and Johnston, Rhode Island. Preliminary observations submitted to the American Meteor Society confirmed that many people across the Northeast witnessed the fireball around 2 p.m. The meteor is believed to have entered the atmosphere near Boston's South Shore, as indicated by satellite lightning data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While most meteors burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, larger ones can create sonic booms as they generate shock waves while descending at speeds of up to 160,000 miles per hour. This event is part of a trend of increased fireball sightings and sonic booms reported across North America in recent months, with no evidence suggesting an impact threat to Earth.
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Residents across Massachusetts experienced a startling sonic boom, affecting daily activities and raising awareness about meteor events.
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