Texas [US], March 22 (ANI): A bright fireball crossed parts of Texas on March 21, visible to residents and noted by NASA, the agency reported. Witnesses saw the luminous object about 4:40 p.m. CDT. Preliminary data indicate the meteor first became visible around 49 miles altitude above Stagecoach, northwest of Houston.
Travelling at an estimated 35,000 miles per hour, the meteor moved southeast and broke apart mid-air. Fragmentation reportedly occurred at about 29 miles altitude above Bammel, just west of Cypress Station. Experts say the roughly three-foot-wide object, weighing nearly a ton, disintegrated from intense pressure and heat during atmospheric entry. The breakup produced a strong pressure wave that caused audible sonic booms heard across nearby areas; some residents initially mistook the sounds for explosions or thunder.
Doppler weather radar detected debris consistent with meteorite fragments descending between Willowbrook and Northgate Crossing, raising the possibility of recoverable material on the ground. No immediate reports of damage or injuries have been made. Officials and researchers will monitor the area for remnants, which could provide information on the meteor’s composition and origin.
Events like this are uncommon locally but occur globally; they offer striking displays for observers and useful data for scientists. Authorities issued no advisories after the incident, and experts continue analyzing available observations and data to refine the meteor’s trajectory and characteristics. (ANI)
