Residents of New England were startled on Saturday afternoon by a loud boom caused by a meteor fireball that streaked across the sky. NASA confirmed the event, which occurred at approximately 2:06 p.m. EDT, using satellite imagery from NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite.

Meteor Breakup Over Massachusetts and New Hampshire

The meteor fragmented at an altitude of about 40 miles over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire. This high-altitude breakup released energy equivalent to roughly 300 tons of TNT, which accounts for the loud noise reported across the region.

Meteors travel faster than the speed of sound, creating pressure waves as they burn and break apart in the atmosphere. These pressure waves can produce a sonic boom that is audible on the ground, as was the case with this meteor event.

NASA’s confirmation of the meteor fireball provides insight into the natural phenomena that occasionally occur in our atmosphere, reminding us of the dynamic nature of our environment.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.