NASA estimates metrics of exploding meteor that shook ground (Washington Co., PA)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Associated Press

NASA estimates metrics of exploding meteor that shook ground

January 3, 2021

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A meteor that caused an earthshaking boom over suburban Pittsburgh on New Year’s Day exploded in the atmosphere with an energy blast equivalent to an estimated 30 tons (27,216 kilograms) of TNT, officials said.

NASA’s Meteor Watch social media site said late Sunday a “reasonable assumption” of the speed of the meteor at about 45,000 mph (72,420 kph) would allow a “ballpark” estimate of its size as about a yard in diameter with a mass close to half a ton (454 kilograms).

If not for the cloudy weather, NASA said, it would have been easily visible in the daytime sky — maybe about 100 times the brightness of the full moon.

A nearby infrasound station registered the blast wave from the meteor as it broke apart, enabling the estimates.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/science-pittsburgh-wv-state-wire-e0f6bdd0a350e1453d17891e890ed4a1

[BComplex]

1. Look up!

Wow. Coincidentally with the movie gaining popularity!

[Probatim]

2. As usual, it was partly cloudy in SW PA but I was inside when this happened.

My wife was cleaning and I was cooking when we heard/felt a loud boom and then the house shook. I thought there was an explosion nearby.

It wasn't until we ran across an article the next day that we learned it could have been a meteor.