A meteor streaked over the northeastern US on Saturday at around 2:06 pm ET, exploding north of Cape Cod Bay and generating a sonic boom that shook houses and lit up the sky. The fireball was captured on camera by multiple residents and clearly visible in satellite imagery from the GOES-19 weather satellite. NASA confirmed the event on X, calling it a "bright fireball… accompanied by a loud noise."
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) ruled out an earthquake, stating the shaking was from a "widely felt sonic boom from a suspected bolide." Some Boston-area residents initially feared seismic activity before the agency's clarification. The meteor broke up approximately 40 miles above the ground, according to satellite data.
While the specific explosive force was not detailed in available sources, the event was powerful enough to trigger widespread public reports and national media attention. The fireball's trajectory over Cape Cod Bay placed the explosion in a relatively remote coastal area, limiting potential debris risks. No injuries or property damage have been reported.
The occurrence highlights the unpredictable nature of near-Earth objects and underscores the importance of satellite monitoring systems like GOES-19, which detected the breakup in real time. For now, the region returns to normal with only scattered social media footage as a reminder of the incident.
Further analysis of the meteor's origin or composition has not yet been released by NASA or other agencies. The event remains under review by scientific teams.