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Meteor Explodes Over MassachusettsNew Hampshire Border, Shaking Homes

NASA says the airburst released energy equivalent to about 300 tonnes of TNT, ruling out reentering space debris.

Overview

  • A meteoroid fractured above the MassachusettsNew Hampshire border on Saturday, May 30, producing a bright flash and loud detonations felt across the two states.
  • NASA measured the breakup energy at roughly 300 tonnes of TNT, estimated the speed at about 120,000 km/h, and placed the fragmentation near 64 kilometres altitude.
  • The agency identified the object as a natural meteoroid and said it was not linked to any active meteor shower or to satellite or space-debris reentry.
  • Residents reported houses shaking and strong, audible blasts on social media, while news coverage and NASA gave no reports of confirmed injuries, damage, or recovered fragments.
  • Satellite observations and agency statements helped confirm the event, and scientists say the TNT-equivalent energy explains the wide-area shock effects and will guide follow-up monitoring for fragments or similar airbursts.