A meteorite impact was recorded on both video and audio, marking a rare and possibly unprecedented scientific achievement.
In a remarkable event, a meteorite striking the Earth has been captured on both video and audio for what might be the first time ever.
This unusual occurrence took place in July 2023, just outside a home in Marshfield, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
The homeowner, Joe Velaidum, had an unexpected close call with this celestial object.
The moment of impact
On the day of the meteorite’s arrival, Joe was preparing to take his dogs for a walk.
He was outside his home when he paused to move a dog leash off the grass.
This simple act could have cost him dearly.
If he had lingered for just a minute longer, he might have been hit by the meteorite, which struck the ground shortly after he left.
Joe later reflected on the incident, saying, “It is surreal to think about how close this encounter was.
I was standing right at the point of impact just minutes before.”
This close call made him realize how fortunate he was to have moved when he did.
Joe found debris and checked his camera.
After returning from his walk, Joe noticed strange dark debris on the ground.
Curious, he checked his door camera and was astonished to find video footage of the meteorite’s impact.
The video clearly showed the meteorite falling from the sky and hitting the ground, leaving behind debris.
This evidence was crucial in identifying the event as a meteorite strike.
Joe’s partner, Laura, suggested that the explosion could be linked to a meteorite.
Following this advice, Joe collected some of the debris and sent about 7 grams of it to Chris Herd, a curator at the University of Alberta’s meteorite collection.
The meteorite revealed ancient solar system secrets.
Chris Herd studied the samples and confirmed that they were indeed from a meteorite.
The debris was identified as chondrite, which are some of the oldest known rocks in our solar system.
These rocks formed during the early days of the solar system, making them valuable for scientific research.
Herd noted the significance of this event, stating, “It’s mind-blowing to think that this rock traveled hundreds of millions of miles and landed right at our doorstep.”
The rarity of such occurrences makes this event even more special.
Meteorite impact captured on video and audio for possibly the first time ever
What sets this incident apart is the fact that it was captured on both video and audio.
Herd emphasized that this is likely the first time a meteorite fall has been documented in such detail.
He mentioned, “From a science perspective, it’s new. No other meteorite fall has been documented like this, complete with sound.”
The meteorite was traveling at about 60,000 kilometers per hour (approximately 37,282 miles per hour) as it entered the atmosphere.
It slowed down to around 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour) before hitting the ground.
This high speed illustrates the force with which meteorites strike the Earth, and how quickly they can arrive without warning.
Interestingly, the Earth is constantly bombarded by meteoritic material.
Every day, about 44,000 kilograms (48.5 tons) of meteoritic material enters the atmosphere.
Most of it burns up before reaching the ground, but some fragments do make it through.