On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, residents in New Jersey and other areas along the East Coast reported feeling shaking or hearing an explosion-like sound around 11 a.m. The cause of this phenomenon was initially unclear, with some speculating it could be an earthquake or even military exercises in the area. However, NASA later provided a different explanation: a meteor had passed near New York City.
According to NASA's Meteor Watch team, the meteor disintegrated 29 miles above midtown Manhattan at around 11:17 a.m. The space agency estimated that it flew at an altitude of 49 miles above Upper Bay near Greenville Yard in Jersey City and passed over the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
The Perseid meteor shower, which became visible in the area on Sunday and continues into August, was also a possibility. Several residents reported seeing a fireball between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m., with information appearing in the logs of the American Meteor Society.
Despite initial concerns, there were no reports of damage or injuries related to this event, according to local authorities. The US Geological Survey also reported no seismic activity in the area at that time.
The exact trajectory and cause of the shaking reported by some residents are still uncertain. NASA suspects it may have been tied to military activity in the vicinity, as there were reports of such exercises taking place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
In summary, on July 16, 2024, New Jersey residents and others along the East Coast reported feeling shaking or hearing an explosion-like sound around 11 a.m. NASA later determined that this was likely caused by a meteor passing near New York City.
