According to NASA Meteor Watch, a meteor roared 47,000 kilometers per hour over northern Vermont Sunday night, shocking people in neighboring Canada and Maine.
Scientists report that the meteor arrived about 17 km above Mount Mansfield State Forest
“Eyewitnesses in the Northeast and Canada report that they saw a bright fireball tonight around 5:38 p.m. Eastern Standard Time,” NASA Meteor Watch posted on its Facebook page. “An analysis of their reports shows that the meteor took place over Northern Vermont, and first appeared at an altitude of 84 miles above Mount Mansfield State Forest.”
For anyone wondering about the big tree / meteor earlier today in #btv #vermont , I went through some webcam recordings and found that it is on the WCAX / BTV airport webcam. 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 kilometers through the upper atmosphere before burning 53 kilometers above Beach Hill in Orleans County south of Newport,” NASA reported.
News agencies in Vermont reported that they received dozens of calls from readers and viewers after hearing loud upheaval when the meteor flared across the blue sky. The Burlington Free Press reports 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 fast-moving object for a few moments.
NASA reported that they hope to receive some videos of the celestial activity.
John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JREbosglobe.