BOSTON — A loud explosion was heard throughout New England on Saturday afternoon, just after 2 p.m. has been offically confirmed to have been caused by a meteor!
The American Meteor Society reported to the Associated Press that the 3-foot meteor entered Earth’s atmosphere “around the New Hampshire border with Massachusetts, north of Boston.”
Residents from New Hampshire down to Rhode Island heard a loud boom, some even reporting their entire house shaking.
Robert Lunsford, the Fireball Program Monitor with the society, told the Associated Press that the organization had recieved numerous reports from Delaware to Montreal with people either hearing the double boom, feeling the ground shake or seeing the fireball — which he said looks like a shooting star in the daytime sky.
Lunsford reiterated that the meteor was “definitely bigger than a normal fireball, about a yard wide,” but believes that it did not strike the ground.
“We would need more information about the trajectory the speed and other aspects to know for sure if it hit the ground, but if it didn’t burn up, then it would have landed in the ocean,” he said. “Most of them do burn up before they hit the ground.”
Boston 25’s Chief Meteorologist Shiri Spear shares that satellite products that are “used to watch for lightning can also detect the flash of a meteor.”
Shiri also added that while it was likely a meteor, NASA makes the final call.
A data map shows that just over Boston, a large green flash can be seen, which experts say is indicative of a meteor/sonic boom.
Multiple police and fire officials throughout the region have asked residents to refrain from calling their department as they are aware of the incident.
“Yes, I did, thought it may have been a explosion from the power plant next door. It vibrated my apartment. Though it lasted about 3 to 4 seconds.....longer than most explosions. Did not sound like thunder,” one viewer said.
“I was outside in Framingham with my dog. Heard and felt two huge blasts. Felt the shockwave. Definitely not thunder. Was from the east/southeast from where I was standing. Scared the crap out of us,” another viewer said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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