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A meteor crashed into Earth’s atmosphere over New York State on Wednesday, triggering a thunderous boom and dramatic lightning over Lake Ontario, officials said.
Bill Cooke, who heads NASA’s office of the meteor environment, said the meteor made its fiery entrance while traveling west and at a speed of 56,000 mph at 12:08 a.m. ET.
When the meteor shattered into pieces at an altitude of 22 miles between Rochester and Syracuse, Cooke said, it created a booming sound that was reportedly heard across New York City.
Emergency dispatchers in Onondaga County, where Syracuse is located, reported receiving several 911 calls reporting the sound. NBC affiliate WTSM reported that it was also heard in neighboring Oswego and Madison counties.
As it separated, the meteor produced a brilliant flash over Lake Ontario, Cooke said. Video of Toronto’s 1,815-foot CN Tower appeared to capture the light on the city skyline.
Cooke said so few videos of the object have emerged that its orbit remains unclear. He said its slow entry speed suggested it was probably an asteroid.
Robert Lunsford, of the American Meteor Society, said it was possible the meteor could have been seen over a large area. Observers reported seeing him from New York to Pennsylvania and Washington DC, he said.
“Having something this close to a big city is pretty rare,” Lunsford said, adding that most meteors “fall into the water”.
Kelcey Henderson contributed.
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