Another meteor has made its presence known over the United States, this time blazing across a densely populated stretch of the East Coast in broad daylight.
On Tuesday, April 7, around 2:34 p.m. EDT, eyewitnesses in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania reported seeing a daytime fireball. According to NASA, the meteor first became visible 48 miles above the Atlantic Ocean, off the shore of Mastic Beach on Long Island. WFSB
The fireball was confirmed as a meteor by both NASA and the American Meteor Society. Patch Moving to the southwest at 30,000 mph, it traveled 117 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating 27 miles above Galloway, NJ — just north of Atlantic City. WFSB
One unusual aspect noted by the American Meteor Society was that many witnesses reported a distinct green color — rare for a daytime sighting. The green hue could indicate a high concentration of nickel in the meteor. Patch
Over 200 people filed reports with the American Meteor Society. CBS News Some witnesses also reported hearing a sonic boom. No meteorite fragments were recovered. The Digest Online
This comes just weeks after a meteor seen across Ohio in mid-March sparked a booming sound and unleashed energy equivalent to 250 tons of TNT when it fragmented. Patch
NASA notes that February through April is peak fireball season — meteors are common, but most occur over oceans or unpopulated areas and go unnoticed. CBS News This one, however, crossed one of the busiest corridors on the East Coast in the middle of the afternoon — hard to miss.