Impact on inhabited building
On July 16, 2024, a bright daytime object crossed the sky above the northeastern United States, producing a sonic boom south of the Statue of Liberty near New York City. Shortly afterward, a fragment weighing more than two pounds broke through the roof of a residence in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
An international group of scientists examined the recovered pieces and reported their results in the journal Science Advances. According to the team, the samples show a chemical makeup comparable to that found on planetary bodies beyond Earth.
- Sighting of the fireball on July 16, 2024 above New York City
- Strike by a meteorite heavier than two pounds in New Jersey
- Study by international researchers published in Science Advances
- Detection of extraterrestrial-style chemistry in the rock
The work helps improve understanding of the origin and history of small bodies in the solar system. No people were hurt, though the structure sustained damage to its roofing.
Follow-up research is expected to determine where in space the material originated and what processes shaped its current form.