NASA has confirmed the identity of a mysterious midday flash seen across the Southeast. Authorities investigate reports of property damage, and witnesses recount dramatic scenes.
At 12:25 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 26, a meteor entered Earth’s atmosphere above Oxford, Georgia, traveling southwest at nearly 30,000 miles per hour. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reported that the object, estimated to be three feet wide and weighing more than a ton, broke apart 27 miles above West Forest.
The disintegration released energy on par with 20 tons of TNT. The meteor created a shockwave strong enough to cause loud booms and noticeable ground vibrations. NASA noted that “some large windows may have vibrated or even cracked” as a result.
The meteor’s intensity was such that it activated lightning-detection instruments aboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — tools typically used to monitor storm activity.
Doppler radar also recorded signs of falling debris, and NASA received multiple reports of possible meteorite fragments found on the ground. Among the most notable incidents was in McDonough, Georgia, where a resident reported that a rock had pierced the roof of their home, passed through the ceiling, and cracked the laminate floor.
The Henry County Emergency Management Agency confirmed structural damage at the home. Its director stated, “Although I can’t confirm this is from a meteor, there is unusual damage to the home.”
Radar images showed possible meteorite debris in the Blacksville area, near a Home Depot distribution center along Highway 20. No injuries have been reported in connection with the event.
The American Meteor Society (AMS) received over 100 reports from Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Witnesses described a blazing object visible even in daylight, followed by a boom and ground tremors…