A “bright fireball,” a “dwindling rumble,” a “rumble and boom”: These were the words residents across Massachusetts and much of New England used to describe a meteor that was spotted zipping past Vermont over the weekend, reaching speeds of 47,000 miles per hour at points.
Witnesses throughout the Northeast and Canada reported seeing a bright fireball around 5:38 p.m. Sunday, according to a Facebook post from NASA Meteor Watch.
Fireball over northern Vermont Eyewitnesses in the NorthEast and Canada are reporting seeing a bright fireball this…
Posted by NASA Meteor Watch on Sunday, March 7, 2021
NASA’s analysis of the witnesses’ reports indicated the meteor was flying over northern Vermont, first appearing at a height of 52 miles above Mt. Mansfield State Forest, the largest piece of land owned by the state’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
Update on last night's Vermont fireball: A solution based on over 100 eyewitness reports does not significantly change…
Posted by NASA Meteor Watch on Monday, March 8, 2021
The meteor apparently traveled 33 miles through the upper atmosphere, moving northeast at 47,000 miles per hour before burning up above Beach Hill in Orleans County, south of Newport, Vermont, according to NASA.
Dozens of sightings were reported throughout New England, including around Boston, Worcester and Springfield, Massachusetts.
“We hope to refine the trajectory as more reports and hopefully some videos filter in,” the federal agency said.
Residents across New England had a lot to say about their meteor sightings.
One person in Cambridge, Massachusetts heard the rumble of the extraterrestrial body and thought it might be F-35 fighter jets flying over the city. He commented on NASA’s Facebook post to recount his experience.
“Didn’t think anything of it, other than it didn’t last long,” he said about the rumble.
In the northeast corner of Bristol, Vermont, another resident heard a “sonic boom,” followed by a “dwindling rumble.”
“I thought it sounded a little abnormal,” the person commented on NASA’s post. “Interesting explanation!”
A resident in Johnson, Vermont heard the rumbles from the meteor. Their children were playing outside when the rocky body shot through the sky and described it as “big trucks crashing.”
Another person heard the “rumble and boom” in South Burlington, Vermont, and in New Hampshire, a resident saw the meteor on Interstate 89 in Lebanon shortly after 5:30 p.m.
“It was very big and bright!,” the person claimed.
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