Meteor traveling at 42,000mph rattles buildings as it explodes with the force of 440 POUNDS of TNT over Vermont
- A meteor traveling at an estimated 42,000mph rattled buildings in New England over the weekend after it exploded with the force of 440 pounds of TNT
- Eyewitnesses in Northeast and Canada reported seeing fireball around 5.38pm
- The meteor traveled 33 miles from Mount Mansfield State Forest before burning up over Beach Hill in Orleans County south of Newport
- Based on analysis the energy of the fireball caused it to explode at 440 pounds of TNT, according to NASA Meteor Watch
A meteor traveling at an estimated 42,000mph rattled buildings in New England over the weekend after it exploded with the force of 440 pounds of TNT.
According to a Facebook post from the NASA Meteor Watch, eyewitnesses in the Northeast and Canada reported seeing the bright fireball around 5.38pm.
‘Analysis of their reports shows that the meteor occurred over northern Vermont, first appearing at a height of 52 miles above Mount Mansfield State Forest,’ the post reads.
A meteor (circled) traveling at an estimated 42,000mph rattled buildings in New England over the weekend after it exploded with the force of 440 pounds of TNT
The group said that based on more than 100 reports, the fireball was traveling at a speed of about 42,000mph.
The meteor traveled 33 miles from Mount Mansfield State Forest before burning up over Beach Hill in Orleans County south of Newport.
According to the agency, the object ‘was likely a fragment of an asteroid’ that caused tremors from a pressure difference between the front and back of the object.
‘The space rock fragmented violently, producing a pressure wave that rattled buildings and generated the sound heard by those near the trajectory,’ the agency said.
‘Such a pressure wave can also couple into the ground, causing minor “tremors” that can be picked up by seismic instruments in the area; the wave itself can be detected by infrasound stations.’
Infrasound measurements from three stations put the energy of the fireball fragmentation at 440 pounds of TNT, according to NASA Meteor Watch.
‘We can combine this energy with the speed to get a mass and size of the object – 10 pounds and 6 inches in diameter. A nice little firework, courtesy of Mother Nature,’ they added.
Infrasound measurements from three stations put the energy of the fireball (pictured) fragmentation at 440 pounds of TNT, according to NASA Meteor Watch
More than 100 people (black arrows depicted) reported seeing the fireball
The incident was captured on video that was shared on YouTube and Twitter. Some people reported a loud ‘boom’ while others said they didn’t hear any sound.
In one clip from the webcam at Burlington International Airport, a streak of light is seen quickly passing by.
A loud boom was heard in central New York as the meteor passed overhead, witnesses said.
In Vermont, Al Gregoritsch told NBC 5 that ‘there was no sound whatsoever’.
‘I was very excited to see it. It’s a phenomenon I will never forget.’
Chris Hrotic, who commented under on the NASA Meteor Watch’s Facebook post, wrote: ‘I was fortunate to hear and see it by the Missisquoi River at the Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge in Swanton, VT, just before sunset.
‘No loud boom as reported by others, but a rushing sound that made me look up at just the right moment. It was extremely bright and absolutely spectacular!’
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