WASHINGTON, May 31, 2026 (WAFA) – A meteor streaking toward Earth exploded over the northeastern United States on Saturday, producing a powerful sonic boom equivalent to approximately 300 tons of TNT, according to the U.S. space agency NASA.
NASA said the fireball disintegrated over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire, north of Boston, at approximately 2:06 p.m. local time (18:06 GMT).
The agency explained that the fireball was not associated with any active meteor shower and was a naturally occurring object, not the result of re-entering space debris or a satellite.
NASA estimated that the energy released during the meteor’s breakup was equivalent to around 300 tons of TNT, accounting for the loud explosions heard across the region.
The meteor was traveling at more than 120,000 kilometers per hour at an altitude of about 64 kilometers when it fragmented in the atmosphere.
The sudden sonic booms startled residents, with social media users reporting that the blast was powerful enough to shake homes across parts of the region.
M.N
