A meteorite roared through northern Vermont at 47,000 miles per hour Sunday evening, striking neighboring Canada and Maine, according to NASA Meteor Watch.
Scientists report that the meteorite reached 52 kilometers over the Mount Mansfield State Forest around 5:48 p.m.
“Eyewitnesses from the Northeast and Canada report that they saw a bright fireball tonight around 5:38 p.m., Eastern Standard Time,” NASA’s Meteor Watch posted on its Facebook page. “Analysis of their reports shows the meteor occurred in northern Vermont, first appearing at an altitude of 52 miles (84 kilometers) above Mount Mansfield State Forest.”
For anyone wondering today about the big boom / meteor #btv #vermont I scanned some webcam images and found it on the WCAX / BTV airport webcam; look at the top left. pic.twitter.com/oyVLSoVahP
– Jeremy LaClair (@JeremyLaclair) March 8, 2021
The meteor traveled in a northeasterly direction and traveled 33 miles at 47,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. “It traveled 53 miles (53 kilometers) through the upper atmosphere before burning 33 miles (53 kilometers) above Beach Hill in Orleans County, south of Newport,” NASA reported.
Vermont news agencies reported receiving dozens of phone calls from readers and viewers after they heard loud booms as the meteor burned through the blue sky. The free Burlington press reported that some readers compared the flight of the meteor to the sound of a shooting range.
Burlington Station, WCAX, said its camera at Burlington Airport captured the moving object for a few brief moments.
NASA reported that it hoped to receive some videos of the celestial activity.
John R. Ellement can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JREbosglobe.