Meteor triggers loud boom and shaking felt across Massachusetts

U.S. newsMeteor triggers loud boom and shaking felt across Massachusetts NASA confirmed that a fireball passed over Massachusetts at 2:06 p.m., releasing a blast of energy equal to what it said was an estimated 300 tons of TNT.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleLoud boom rattles New England region01:34Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 30, 2026, 7:02 PM EDT / Updated May 30, 2026, 7:03 PM EDTBy Marlene Lenthang and Jay BlackmanA meteor traveling at thens of thousands of miles an hour triggered a loud boom and ground shaking that were felt across Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.NASA confirmed a fireball, meaning a bright meteor, passed over the state at 2:06 p.m. at an estimated speed of 75,000 mph, releasing what it said was the equivalent of about 300 tons of TNT upon breakup. “It appears to have fragmented at an altitude of 40 miles above extreme northeast Massachusetts/southeast New Hampshire,” NASA said in a statement. The fireball isn’t associated with an active meteor shower, NASA said, describing the phenomenon as “a natural object and not a re-entry of space debris or a satellite.”The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said public safety officials received reports of “an audible boom” and tremors in the eastern part of the state. The agency said there were no known emergency police or fire requests connected to the reports.The United States Geological Survey described event is a “widely felt sonic boom from a suspected bolide.”“Unlike earthquakes which occur at discrete location in the earth, sonic boom events occur along a linear path in the atmosphere,” it said.There was no earthquake nor anything impacting the ground, the USGS said. ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMarlene LenthangMarlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.Jay BlackmanJay Blackman is an NBC News producer cove...