NASA confirms exploding meteor caused the sonic boom over Boston

image via The Verge

May 31, 2026, 1:44 PM

• •Meteor exploded over the northeastern US.
• •Caused a sonic boom and shook houses.
• •Fragmented at 40 miles altitude.
• •Energy released equivalent to 300 tons of TNT.

A meteor streaked over the northeastern US on Saturday, exploding north of Cape Cod Bay and causing a sonic boom that shook houses across several states. The event, captured on camera and visible in satellite imagery, was initially mistaken for an earthquake by some residents. NASA confirmed it as a bright fireball, with the meteor traveling at approximately 75,000 miles per hour before fragmenting 40 miles above northeast Massachusetts and southeast New Hampshire. The energy released was equivalent to 300 tons of TNT, and the meteor was not associated with any active meteor shower.

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