NASA Confirms Meteor Exploded Over New England with Force of 300 Tons of TNT
NASA said the fireball released energy equal to 300 tons of TNT and was not linked to a meteor shower, space debris or a satellite.
- On Saturday, May 30, 2026, a bolide exploded high above the Massachusetts coast around 2:06 p.m., producing a loud double boom and sonic shockwave that shook homes across New England.
- NASA confirmed the object was a natural meteor traveling at 75,000 mph before fragmenting 40 miles above the ground, releasing energy equivalent to 300 tons of TNT.
- The American Meteor Society identified the 3-foot-wide rock, while NOAA's GOES-19 satellite captured an anomalous flash distinct from lightning and U.S. Geological Survey seismographs registered no earthquake activity.
- Startled residents flooded emergency dispatch centers with calls, prompting local police to ask the public to refrain from overwhelming lines; authorities reported no injuries or property damage.
- Experts note most meteors disintegrate harmlessly in the atmosphere; scientists believe this object likely burned up completely or landed in the ocean, making debris recovery unlikely.
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The phenomenon was as sudden as it was spectacular. An unlisted celestial body was fractured at the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Faced with the detonations that caused the houses to vibrate,
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A meteor exploded over the northeast of the United States with an energy equivalent to 300 tons of TNT. The phenomenon caused noises and tremors perceived in several states.
According to NASA, the object fragmented about 64 kilometers above the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. The energy released during the disintegration was equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT, which explains the noises heard in the region.
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