A metallic object that fell onto the bedroom floor of a resident’s home in New Jersey is believed to be a meteorite from the Eta Aquariid meteor shower.
The police are still trying to determine the exact nature of the object, although authorities suspect it is related to the ongoing Eta Aquariid meteor shower, according to a statement from the Hopewell Township Police Department in New Jersey on May 8. The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is an annual event where debris from the famous Halley’s Comet enters Earth’s atmosphere. This astronomical event peaked on May 6, according to the American Meteor Society, and will continue until May 27.
The object is likely a meteorite measuring 10 x 15 cm. (Photo: Hopewell Township Police Department)
“I touched the object because I thought it was just a random rock,” revealed Suzy Kop, a local resident, about the object that fell through her father’s bedroom ceiling. “It was still warm. Luckily, no one was in the room.”
The outer layer of meteorites can become extremely hot due to friction and immense pressure when they travel through Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds, although they usually cool down significantly by the time they reach the ground. Meteorites fall all the time, distributed evenly across Earth’s surface. However, cases of them striking homes or residential areas are very rare, as much of the planet is covered by oceans or sparsely populated regions.
However, authorities have recorded similar incidents in the past. Last November, a meteorite from the Taurid meteor shower struck a house in Northern California, causing a fire to break out afterward. Dustin Procita, a resident of Nevada County, was home with his two dogs at the time of the incident, one of which died in the fire.
The New Jersey authorities reported that the suspected meteorite measures 10 x 15 cm. It penetrated through the roof, ceiling, and then struck the hardwood floor where it came to rest. The local police department has contacted several agencies to help identify the object and ensure the safety of the residents.
Meteorites can be very difficult to distinguish from other metallic-containing rocks. Researchers who hunt for meteorites often look for a glassy coating that forms on the exterior of the object, which melts as it travels through Earth’s atmosphere, known as the fusion crust. Another notable characteristic is the weight of the specimen. Meteorites are much heavier than ordinary rocks of the same size on Earth due to their dense metal content.
