This is what exploded over New York!

 On Tuesday, July 16, residents of New York witnessed an unusual phenomenon. A small meteor flew over the city, then exploded over Manhattan, causing spectacular light and sound effects. NASA confirmed that the incident did indeed take place and released more information about the characteristics of the object.

The meteor that created the fireball visible during the day was traveling through the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of about 61,000 km/h. Its journey began at an altitude of about 79 km above the Upper Bay, near the Statue of Liberty, and ended over midtown Manhattan, where it was completely destroyed at an altitude of about 46 km. What is unusual is that meteors are usually visible at night, so the observation of the daytime fireball was exceptional.

Despite the spectacular visual and acoustic effects, no fragments of the meteorite were recorded that reached the ground. NASA confirmed that the object was too small to survive atmospheric entry - its diameter was only about 0.3 meters.

The event caused quite a stir among residents of New York City and the surrounding area. Many reported hearing loud booms and feeling tremors, prompting speculation that an earthquake was occurring. However, both NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey have ruled out this possibility. Some witnesses described the event as “a long, burning rod flying through the sky.”

While NASA does not track small meteorites at significant distances from Earth, the agency does monitor larger objects that could pose a threat to our planet. Incidents like this remind us of the constant bombardment of Earth by space rocks and the need for constant monitoring of space.

Witnesses were able to observe a bright fireball in the sky, and numerous videos and photos of the event were quickly shared on social media, allowing information about this unusual phenomenon to spread widely.

The event highlights the importance of monitoring and studying space. NASA and other space agencies around the world are working to develop technologies that can help track and potentially prevent larger objects from colliding with Earth. While most meteorites that burn up in the atmosphere do not pose a threat, there is always a risk that a larger object could penetrate the atmosphere and cause serious damage.