A meteorite possibly crashed into a Houston-area home on Saturday night, tearing through the roof and two stories of the residence. The meteorite, which appeared to be a little bigger than a hand, landed in the kitchen of the home, causing significant damage.
Details of the Incident
According to Ponderosa Fire Chief Fred Windisch, the object was confirmed to be what “appears to be a meteorite,” and it crashed into the house in Ponderosa Forest, a suburb in north Houston.
Officials say the impact was severe, with the meteorite tearing through the roof and multiple floors before landing in the kitchen.
NASA later confirmed that the meteor became visible at about 49 miles above Stagecoach, a town northwest of Houston, at 4:40 p.m. local time. The meteor moved southeast at an astonishing speed of 35,000 miles per hour.
The object fragmented 29 miles above Bammel, near Cypress Station, creating a significant pressure wave that caused loud booms heard by some residents.
Effects on the Community
Residents in the Houston area reported hearing a low, rumbling sound, similar to thunder, even though the skies were clear. The sound was likely due to the meteor fragmentation, which created shockwaves as the object broke apart in the atmosphere.
This phenomenon has been compared to previous meteor events, including a similar occurrence in Georgia last June, where a bright meteor exploded and generated a similar rumbling sound.
NASA’s Confirmation and Meteorite Characteristics
NASA stated that the meteorite weighed about one ton and had a diameter of approximately 3 feet. The force of the meteor’s fragmentation created shockwaves, leading to the sounds heard by many people in the area.
Earlier this week, an asteroid weighing about 7 tons and traveling at 45,000 miles per hour passed over multiple states, further contributing to the increased meteor activity in recent days.
