A Meteorite Explodes with a Loud Bang While Flying Over New York and New Jersey at a Speed of 61,200 km/h
A fireball shines brightly in the daytime sky over New York. (Video: American Meteor Society)
On the morning of July 16, a meteorite entered Earth’s atmosphere, creating a loud explosion that reverberated throughout many areas in New York City and New Jersey, according to NASA. Initial estimates indicate that the meteorite was moving northeast and passed over the Statue of Liberty around 11:17 AM local time before breaking apart over downtown Manhattan. Estimates based on descriptions of the fireball, the explosion, and vibrations suggest that the meteorite entered Earth’s atmosphere above Upper Bay and sped towards New York at approximately 54,500 km/h, as reported by Live Science.
After receiving additional reports from the public, NASA updated the meteorite’s trajectory. “The meteorite appeared above New York City and moved west toward New Jersey,” a representative from NASA’s Meteor Watch stated. “Its speed reached up to 61,200 km/h.”
This meteorite was relatively small, likely measuring less than 0.3 meters in diameter, according to William Cooke, the manager of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. It transformed into a fireball due to the heat generated from its high speed. “You typically see meteors at night, so a fireball during the day is quite rare,” Cooke noted.
This meteorite was relatively small, likely measuring less than 0.3 meters in diameter.
The footage capturing the event was shared with the American Meteor Society by a resident in Northford, Connecticut. In the video, a short white streak zips across the blue sky. The fireball did not produce any debris that fell to the ground. Additionally, there were no reports of injuries or damage related to the event.
Some witnesses saw the fireball, while many others only heard the explosion. Residents in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and northern New Jersey reported hearing the explosion accompanied by shaking. The high temperatures on the morning of July 16 may have allowed the sound from the meteorite to travel farther than expected. Sound waves travel faster in warm air compared to cold air because gas molecules at higher temperatures have more energy and vibrate faster. However, the loud bang could also have originated from entirely unrelated sources, such as military activities occurring simultaneously in New Jersey, according to Cooke.
