On a recent Saturday afternoon, a loud explosion startled residents across New England, prompting police and various agencies to investigate the cause of a double boom that shook buildings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The American Meteor Society confirmed that the sounds, reported around 2:30 p.m., were due to a meteor approximately 3 feet wide entering the atmosphere near the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border, just north of Boston.
Witness Reports and Observations
Fire program monitor Robert Lunsford noted that the society received numerous reports from locations ranging from Delaware to Montreal. Witnesses described hearing the double boom, feeling the ground shake, or witnessing a bright fireball that resembled a shooting star in the daytime sky. Lunsford stated, “It was definitely bigger than a normal fireball, about a yard wide.”
Meteor Impact and Seismographic Data
Lunsford indicated that it is unlikely the meteor struck land. “We need more information about the trajectory, speed, and other factors to determine if it hit the ground,” he explained. “Most meteors burn up before reaching the Earth’s surface. If this one didn’t burn up, it likely landed in the ocean.”
Social media users from several states shared their experiences of feeling buildings shake. Numerous videos posted on the X platform documented two quick booms, with no visible fire, smoke, or other causes.
No Seismic Activity Detected
“The shaking people felt registered with the National Earthquake Information Center,” stated agency spokesman Steve Sobie.
Many individuals reported their experiences to the U.S. Geological Survey, which led the agency to open an event page based on “Did you feel it?” reports on its website. However, Sobie confirmed that the agency’s seismographs did not register any seismic activity, indicating that the shaking was unrelated to an earthquake.
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