Meteor Sighting: NASA Reports Fireball over Manhattan at 34,000 mph

NASA said that after blazing across the sky, a meteor—traveling at 34,000 mph—particles broke above midtown Manhattan. Based on NASA Meteor Watch’s Facebook update, local media and eyewitnesses saw a fireball blazing over New York City on Tuesday morning, over 49 miles above Upper Bay. The event corresponded with claims of local tremors and a suspected sonic boom.

NASA said that first observations let one estimate the trajectory of the meteor somewhat roughly. Approaching the Statue of Liberty from a steep angle of 18 degrees from vertical, it passed over before separating roughly 29 miles above Manhattan.

Notwithstanding worries, the New York City emergency management system verified there were no reports of the asteroid physically damaging anything. Moreover, NASA said that there was no proof the meteor generated any meteorites.

NASA also recorded records of military activity in the area at the time of the meteor sighting, which would help to explain the noted shaking and sonic boom.

The experience has generated local curiosity and spurred debates on meteorological events and their effects, therefore underscoring the erratic nature of celestial events over metropolitan settings.