Loud Boom Heard Over Tri-State Area Was Exploding Meteor: NASA

YS Gold 

Reports abounded yesterday afternoon of a loud noise heard over the Tri-State Area. Later in the afternoon, NASA confirmed that it was the result of a fast-traveling meteor. 

NASA’s Meteoroid Environments Office told PIX11 News it estimates that a fireball may have flown about 49 miles above Upper Bay near Greenville Yard in Jersey City. 

Based on reports filed on the American Meteor Society website, the fireball may have flown at about 34,000 miles per hour, passed over the Statue of Liberty, and disintegrated 29 miles above Midtown Manhattan. The Chief Meteorologist noted that sound waves travel faster and louder in warm air due to higher energy and faster vibration of air molecules.

Given the relatively recent earthquake felt in NYC this spring, rumors quickly spread that this was yet another such event. But authorities were quick to put this theory to rest, confirming that there had been no earthquake activity.

photo: Shutterstock