A doorbell camera installed in a Canadian residence has managed to capture both video and audio of a meteorite making contact with the Earth, specifically crashing onto a couple’s walkway.
When Laura Kelly and her partner returned home from a leisurely evening stroll in July, they were taken aback to discover their walkway covered in dust and unusual fragments, according to a report shared by the Meteoritical Society, which also featured the footage.
Upon reviewing their security footage, they witnessed an object forcefully impacting their entrance, generating a significant cloud of smoke accompanied by a distinctive crackling sound.
The couple promptly reported their findings to the University of Alberta’s Meteorite Reporting System. Chris Herd, the curator, examined the debris samples and confirmed their extraterrestrial nature.
Meteorites are remnants of space rocks that make it to Earth after enduring the intense heat of the atmosphere during their descent. NASA estimates that approximately 48 tons (or 43,500 kilograms) of this type of debris collide with Earth on a daily basis, although it is far more common for these objects to land in oceans rather than on private properties.
These celestial rocks also create spectacular displays in the night sky when they become visible as shooting stars during annual meteor showers.
The video captured by the doorbell camera is considered a unique occurrence; while the sight of meteors streaking across the sky has been recorded before, capturing the sound of a meteorite impact is an extraordinary feat.
The meteorite, which was officially registered on Monday, has been named Charlottetown, in honor of the city located on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada where it fell.”
