A meteor was roasting across northern Vermont at 47,000 miles per hour Sunday afternoon, starting people in nearby Canada and Maine, according to NASA Meteor Watch.
Scientists report that the meteor reached 52 miles above Mount Mansfield State Forest around 5:48 pm
“Eyewitnesses in the Northeast and Canada report seeing a bright fireball tonight around 5:38 PM Eastern Standard Time, ” NASA NASA Meteor Watch on its Facebook page. “Examination of their reports shows that the meteor occurred over northern Vermont, first appearing at an altitude of 52 miles (84 kilometers) above Mount Mansfield State Forest.”
The meteor traveled northeast and covered 33 miles at 47,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. “It went over 33 miles (53 kilometers) through the high atmosphere before firing up 33 miles (53 kilometers) over Beach Hill in Orleans County south of Newport,” NASA said.
News organizations in Vermont said they received dozens of phone calls from readers and viewers after hearing about high heels while the meteor blazed across the blue skies. The Burlington Free Press reported that some readers likened the flight of the meteor to the sound of a firing range.
Burlington station, WCAX, said its camera at Burlington Airport captured the fast-moving material for a few minutes.
NASA said it was hoping to get some videos of the celestial activity.
John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JREbosglobe.