Meteor sightings confirmed in skies above the tri-state
Video shared with News 12 from Forked River shows a small fireball quickly streaking through the sky.
A meteor was sighted in the skies above the tri-state area around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The American Meteor Society confirmed several reports of the fireball being seen over the state from 2:33 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Video shared with News 12 from Forked River, New Jersey, shows a small fireball quickly streaking through the sky.
Various social media users remarked they heard a loud boom accompanying the meteor. According to News 12 Lead Meteorologist Dave Curren, an object must be traveling as fast as the speed of sound to make an audible 'boom.'
As it enters earth's atmosphere, a meteor travels at an average speed of about 120,000 mph, far surpassing the necessary 767 mph needed to break the sound barrier, says Curren.
To generate a sound audible on the earth's surface, a meteor typically has to survive the atmosphere and travel as low as 15 miles off the ground for people below to hear the sonic 'boom.'
(Video courtesy of Brittany Wilhelmy)
