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Meteor Enters Earth's Atmosphere And Creates Sonic Boom

Meteor Enters Earth's Atmosphere And Creates Sonic Boom

It broke up into pieces at an altitude of 22 miles above the surface of Earth, creating a sonic boom

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A large meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere in parts of north-eastern American states and southern Ontario in Canada, with video footage shared online showing an intense flash - and the loud boom that came with it.

NASA released satellite imagery that charted the meteor entering Earth's atmosphere over central New York State.

Bill Cooke, who heads up NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, told NBC News that the meteor was travelling west at 56,000mph when it entered the atmosphere at around 12.08pm.

It then broke up into pieces at an altitude of 22 miles above the surface of Earth, between Rochester and Syracuse, Cooke explained.

This created a sonic boom that was reportedly heard across the state, with emergency dispatchers in Onondaga Country - where Syracuse is located - saying they had received multiple 911 calls from residents, who had been alarmed by the strange noise.

NBC affiliate WTSM also reported that the boom was heard in the nearby counties of Oswego and Madison.

Cooke said that, as the meteor broke apart, it produced a huge flash over Lake Ontario - the shores of which border Ontario in Canada and New York State in America.

The American Meteor Society reported that there were around 150 sightings from residents who saw the fireball over parts of other US states, including Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

NASA Meteor Watch

A woman called Bekka Gunner had been out dog sledding in Royalton, Niagara County - located in north-west New York State - on Wednesday afternoon when she inadvertently captured the meteor on her phone's camera.

Posting the footage on Facebook, she wrote: "Holy #%+@$&!!! I have chills. Talk about cosmic energy! What are the chances of seeing this let alone getting it on video! Also my commentary is soooo 2020!

"Edit: apparently there were multiple reports in Buffalo of this meteor. I just so happen to be the one lucky some looking East with a phone out recording at that exact second in time!

"I'm gonna go buy a lotto ticket I think!!!"

Speaking to WGRZ-TV, she explained: "Actually, my phone was out because I was trying to record swans, because there are swans in the swamps right now."

After focusing on the swans, she aimed her phone back towards the track ahead of her.

She continued: "What I thought I saw was a kite, it looked like someone had let their kite go.

"It kind of looked angular, purple and greenish, just like a shiny-looking thing... and then before you blink an eye, it's gone."

Featured Image Credit: Earth Cam

Topics: News, US News