PORTLAND, Maine — Recent radar observations on February 21 revealed objects hurtling through the Earth’s atmosphere at astonishing speeds before landing near the town of Codyville. Dr. Marc Fries from the Johnson Space Center explained how these objects, known as meteoroids, are remnants from the formation of planets billions of years ago. When meteoroids survive the journey through Earth’s atmosphere and reach the ground, they are referred to as meteorites.
One memorable meteor lit up the sky over Maine in 2016, captured on camera across northern New England. However, the meteor in Codyville consisted of only a few dozen rocks, indicating its smaller size compared to the one from 2016. According to Fries, surviving meteorites are typically no larger than a coffee cup.
As meteors fall through Earth’s atmosphere, they often break apart. NASA suggests that the Codyville meteor was traveling at an unusually high speed of over 24,000 miles per hour when it disintegrated. Fries speculates that these meteoroids must have been in a stable orbit for billions of years until something disrupted their path, shifting them into an orbit that intersects with Earth’s.
The possibility of close encounters with large asteroids or massive planets like Jupiter can alter the trajectory of meteorites, bringing them closer to Earth. Despite NASA’s knowledge of where these meteorites landed, they have not yet been located. The mystery surrounding their discovery adds to the intrigue of these cosmic events.
Overall, the influx of meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere serves as a reminder of the dynamic and unpredictable nature of our universe. The study and analysis of these occurrences provide valuable insights into the history and composition of celestial bodies that have shaped our solar system.