A meteor exploded over New England on Saturday afternoon, producing a sonic boom that startled residents across the region and was heard as far away as Delaware and Montreal. The event occurred around 2 p.m. local time and was confirmed by NASA and experts from the American Meteor Society.

The meteoric object, estimated to be about three feet in diameter, entered Earth's atmosphere at approximately 75,000 miles per hour. It fragmented roughly 40 miles above the New Hampshire border, releasing energy equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT. The explosion created a powerful sonic boom, shaking windows and causing ground tremors reported across eastern Massachusetts and neighboring states. Despite the intensity of the sound, no emergencies related to the event were reported by local authorities.

Eyewitness accounts varied across the region. Some residents described the blast as sounding like a bomb or a tree falling, while others were puzzled by the noise and sought visual confirmation through security cameras. Heavy cloud cover likely limited visual sightings, leading to only a few reports of the meteor’s brightness, according to meteorologists.

Experts noted that meteors of this size enter the atmosphere roughly once a year but often go unnoticed because they usually occur at night or over less populated areas. This event was unusual for its daylight timing and brightness. Scientists highlighted that meteors frequently pass through Earth’s atmosphere, depositing natural space debris regularly, but most are small and burn up before reaching the surface.

Surviving meteor fragments are believed to have landed in Cape Cod Bay, where the water reaches depths of about 100 feet. Estimates of fragment size vary; some experts suggest pieces may be as small as grains of sand, while others propose some could be closer to the size of Ping-Pong balls. Due to the depth and ocean conditions, authorities and scientists agree it would be highly unlikely for fragments to be recovered. However, some have speculated that meteorite rocks might wash ashore in the days following the event, prompting interest among local beachgoers and meteorite hunters.

Officials stressed that this meteor event is a natural occurrence and not related to any changes in climate or recent human activity. While the boom and its widespread recognition spurred considerable public attention, experts emphasized that such atmospheric entries have been part of Earth's history for millennia and will continue.

The sonic boom on Saturday also drew comparisons to a similar mysterious rumble heard in South Carolina two days earlier. However, that earlier event was later determined not to be caused by a meteor or fireball, though space debris or a reentering satellite remained possibilities.

In sum, Saturday’s meteor explosion offers a rare glimpse into a natural phenomenon that typically goes unseen but reminds scientists and the public alike of the dynamic interactions between Earth and the space environment.