Residents in parts of New York City and New Jersey were shaken by a loud boom Tuesday morning, with NASA officials saying it was likely due to a daylight fireball meteor.
A daylight fireball is a meteor that is bright enough to be visible during daylight hours because it’s burning brighter than the sun’s light as it enters the Earth’s atmosphere, according to the American Meteor Society.
NASA’s Meteor Watch team reports that the daylight fireball was seen at 11:17 a.m. ET, according to an update shared to Facebook Tuesday afternoon.
Tracking the path of the meteor, NASA estimates that the fireball flew at an altitude of 49 miles above Upper Bay near Greenville Yard in Jersey City.
In this map released by NASA, the estimated path of a meteor is shown passing over Manhattan.
NASA
Officials report that the fireball may have flown at a rate of 34,000 miles per hour as it passed over the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
The meteor then appeared to disintegrate 29 miles above Midtown, Manhattan, according to NASA’s estimations.
Officials clarified that as of Tuesday, “this trajectory is very crude and uncertain,” saying that the estimations are based on “a few eyewitness accounts and there is no camera or satellite data currently available to refine the solution.”
No meteorites, which are fragments of meteors, were produced by this event, according to NASA.
Additionally, the agency notes that on Tuesday morning, at the time of the fireball sighting, there were reports of “military activity in the vicinity,” saying that “would explain the multiple shakings and sounds reported to the media.”
The loud noise and apparent shaking were reported from southern New Jersey to parts of Queens and Brooklyn, according to NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM).
Aries Dela Cruz, an official from NYCEM, noted that the agency “has received no reports of damage or injuries related to this event,” in a post on X Tuesday.
On a seemingly ordinary day in New York City and New Jersey, residents were startled by a sudden burst of bright light in the sky. Many took to social media to share their experiences and speculate on the cause of the unusual phenomenon. However, NASA has since reported that the bright light was likely caused by a meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere.
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the bright light seen in the sky was consistent with a meteor burning up as it entered the Earth’s atmosphere. The event occurred during daylight hours, which is relatively rare for meteor sightings as they are more commonly observed at night when the sky is darker.
Meteors, also known as shooting stars, are small rocks or debris from space that enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up due to friction with the air. When a meteor burns up, it creates a bright streak of light in the sky known as a meteor or fireball. While most meteors are harmless and disintegrate before reaching the Earth’s surface, larger meteors can cause damage if they make impact.
NASA tracks thousands of meteors each year using a network of ground-based cameras and satellites. These cameras capture images of meteors as they streak across the sky, allowing scientists to study their composition and trajectory. By analyzing these data, NASA can better understand the origins and behavior of meteors and predict their potential impact on Earth.
While the bright light seen in New York City and New Jersey may have been caused by a meteor, NASA has assured the public that there is no cause for alarm. Meteors are a common occurrence in Earth’s atmosphere, with thousands entering each day. Most meteors burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, creating a spectacular light show for those lucky enough to witness them.
In conclusion, the bright light seen in New York City and New Jersey was likely caused by a meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere. While the event may have been surprising to residents, NASA’s tracking systems indicate that it was a relatively common occurrence. Meteors are a natural phenomenon that have fascinated humans for centuries, and NASA’s ongoing research helps to shed light on these mysterious objects from space.
