A rare and spectacular event captivated the inhabitants of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday morning. A meteor traversed the Earth's atmosphere, generating impressive sonic booms. This daytime phenomenon sparked both curiosity and concern among residents.
Illustration image Pixabay
Initially, estimates suggested that the meteor, traveling at a staggering speed of 33,800 mph (54,500 km/h), flew over the Statue of Liberty before disintegrating above Manhattan. Reports of a fireball, rumblings, and tremors helped trace this initial trajectory.
However, as new testimonials came in, NASA adjusted the modeled trajectory of the meteor. According to the latest analyses, the meteor appeared above New York and continued westward towards New Jersey at a speed of 38,000 mph (61,200 km/h).
William Cooke, program manager for meteorite environments at NASA, specified that the meteor was likely less than 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. Its disintegration into a fireball, due to the intense heat generated by its speed, was an unusual spectacle for a daytime observation.
Images of this fireball were shared by a resident of Northford, Connecticut, showing a short white streak crossing the blue sky. Fortunately, no fragments of the space rock reached the ground, and no damage or injuries were reported.
AMS event #3491-2024 captured from Northford US - YouTube While some saw the fireball, others simply heard a resounding noise. Residents of Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and northern New Jersey reported rumblings accompanied by shakes. The high morning heat may have contributed to the propagation of these sounds farther than usual.
However, William Cooke noted that the noise could have come from a completely different source, such as military activities that took place simultaneously in New Jersey.