Did the ground shake in New York due to a meteor shower? Here's what NASA has to say
Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Meteor Sighting
On Tuesday morning, residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut witnessed a meteor streaking across the sky above the Statue of Liberty. The event occurred at approximately 11:15 am, accompanied by reports of a brief ground shake.
Witness Accounts
Several witnesses described seeing a flash of fire in the sky, with the meteor appearing as a bright shooting star in green, yellow, and white colours. Approximately 20 individuals reported sightings of the cosmic phenomenon.
Meteor Characteristics
NASA confirmed the incident, stating that the meteor travelled at a staggering speed of 34,000 miles per hour. The bright flash of light lasted about 30 seconds before the meteor fragmented into three pieces.
Path and Disintegration
According to NASA's analysis, the meteor descended at a steep angle of 18 degrees from vertical, passing over the Statue of Liberty before disintegrating at an altitude of 29 miles above midtown Manhattan.
Official Response
The Office of Emergency Management later confirmed that there were no reports of damage or injuries resulting from the meteor sighting.
Reports of Ground Shaking
Simultaneous with the meteor sighting, several residents also reported feeling slight tremors in areas like northeast New Jersey and Staten Island. Concerns led to inquiries with the US Geological Survey, which found no evidence of seismic activity in the region.
NASA's Explanation
NASA attributed the ground shaking to potential military activities, noting that seismic data analysis revealed no earthquake-related causes. Similar incidents in the past have been linked to atmospheric phenomena such as sonic booms or weather-related effects.
Scientific Analysis
The agency emphasized that despite public perception, there was no seismic evidence to support an earthquake occurrence during the meteor event.
Conclusion
As the news of the meteor and associated ground shaking spread, NASA's findings provided clarity on the nature of the event, assuring the public of safety and debunking earthquake concerns in the region.