Meteor Explodes Off Coast of Massachusetts, Producing Loud Boom A meteor exploded off the coast of Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon, generating a powerful boom that was heard across the state and parts of neighboring regions. The event, which occurred around 2:11 p.m. Eastern Time, was reported by dozens of residents who described the sound as a sudden, jarring explosion that rattled windows, startled pets, and caused minor structural vibrations in some homes. The incident was widely documented by local media, with WBZ-TV chief meteorologist Eric Fisher confirming the occurrence and noting its widespread impact. Preliminary reports from the American Meteor Society indicated that the fireball, visible to many across the Northeast, was observed around 2 p.m. Saturday. Sightings extended across multiple states, aiding scientists in tracking the meteor’s trajectory through the atmosphere. Satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) corroborated the event, showing a signature consistent with a meteor at the time of the reported boom. The data suggested the meteor likely entered Earth’s atmosphere near the South Shore of Massachusetts, close to Boston. NASA provided further details, stating that the meteor fragmented at an altitude of 40 miles over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire. The energy released during the breakup was estimated to be equivalent to approximately 300 tons of TNT, which explains the intense noise produced. Most meteors burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, but larger objects can create dramatic fireballs and shockwaves, such as the one witnessed on Saturday.#national_oceanic_and_atmospheric_administration #massachusetts #american_meteor_society #eric_fisher #smithsonian_national_space_and_air_museum
