NASA says meteor explosion caused loud boom heard across New England

Fireball fragments above Massachusetts, releasing energy equivalent to 300 tons of TNT

NASA said Saturday that a meteor breaking apart high above the New England area caused a loud boom that was heard across parts of Massachusetts and neighboring states earlier in the day.

The United States space agency said in a post on US social media company X that witnesses and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) GOES-19 satellite detected a bright fireball at 2.06pm local time (1806GMT).

The meteor fragmented at an altitude of about 40 miles (64 kilometres) above northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire, according to NASA. “The energy released at breakup is estimated to be equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT, which accounts for the loud noise,” it said.

#MeteorSighting: Eyewitnesses in New England and @NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite reported a bright fireball on Saturday, May 30, at 2:06 p.m EDT accompanied by a loud noise. The meteor appears to have fragmented at an altitude of 40 miles over northeast MA and southeast NH. The energy…

— NASA Space Alerts (@NASASpaceAlerts) May 30, 2026

NASA said its assessment was based on satellite observations and witness accounts submitted to the American Meteor Society.

Residents across eastern Massachusetts, including Boston and surrounding communities, reported hearing a powerful explosion-like sound earlier Saturday that rattled homes and prompted numerous calls to authorities.

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Before NASA’s confirmation, NBC10 Meteorologist Pamela Gardner suggested the boom could have been caused by a bolide, a bright meteor entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

“There’s a satellite lightning detection around Boston — but no lightning. No earthquakes on USGS either,” Gardner wrote on X.

Big explosion/boom around Boston
GLM from GOES 19 shows possible meteor or bolide entering the atmosphere. There is no lightning in this current storm, no earthquake from USGS. pic.twitter.com/Wamm66BIRg

— Pamela Gardner NBC10 Boston (@Pamelanbcboston) May 30, 2026

Police and fire departments across the region said they received reports from concerned residents but found no immediate signs of damage or public safety threats.

Authorities said the sound was widely heard, while officials initially described its origin as unknown. No injuries or damage have been reported.