A loud boom echoed across Massachusetts and parts of the Northeast on Saturday afternoon, drawing attention to what NASA now believes was a meteorite landing in Cape Cod Bay. Thousands of residents reported hearing the noise, which was later confirmed by NASA to be caused by a meteorite, a meteor that survives its fiery journey through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the ground.
NASA’s Investigation
NASA utilized radar data from the National Weather Service to determine the likely landing spot of the meteorite, pinpointing it to the center of Cape Cod Bay. The bay’s water depth in that area is approximately 100 feet, making it feasible for someone equipped with a powerful magnet to potentially retrieve pieces of the meteorite, which is believed to be magnetic.
StormTeam 5 meteorologist A.J. Burnett noted, “Conceivably, somebody with a really long rope and a really long magnet could fish up some pieces of this, because it’s likely magnetic.” This statement highlights the intrigue and potential for local residents or researchers to engage in a unique retrieval effort.
Understanding Meteors and Meteorites
The difference between a meteor and a meteorite lies in their journey. A meteor is a space rock that burns up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, often visible as a bright streak in the sky. In contrast, a meteorite is a meteor that survives this journey and lands on Earth. Robert Lundsford, a fireball program monitor, explained that the meteorite was larger than typical fireballs, measuring about a yard wide.
Reports of the event came from as far as Delaware to Montreal, with witnesses describing a double boom, ground shaking, or seeing the fireball, which resembled a shooting star in the daytime sky. Lundsford mentioned that if the skies were clear, the meteorite might have been visible as a bright streak just above the horizon, lasting only a second or two.
Community Response and Further Investigation
Videos capturing the sudden boom were shared widely, with recordings timestamped at approximately 2:11 p.m. At the same time, NOAA’s GOES-19 weather satellite detected a burst over the Massachusetts coast, coinciding with the event.
Local authorities, including state officials, the Weston Observatory, and the U.S. Geological Survey, have been contacted for further information. The community’s response reflects a blend of curiosity and scientific interest, as residents and experts alike seek to understand and possibly recover remnants of this celestial event.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
