Wild Doorbell Cam Captures Meteorite Crash Sound in Canada

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Written By Victor Mullen

Cosmic Doorbell Delivery: Meteorite Crash Lands in Canada

Imagine hearing a sudden “thump” and discovering a piece of outer space landed on your walkway. This isn’t science fiction; it’s precisely what happened to Joe Velaidum and Laura Kelly in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, on July 25, 2024. Their Ring doorbell camera, in a stroke of cosmic serendipity, captured not only the bright flash of a meteorite streaking across the sky but also the first-ever audio recording of a meteorite impact on Earth. This remarkable event has sent ripples of excitement through the scientific community, offering a unique opportunity to study these celestial visitors. Watch the Video

A Cosmic Surprise Captured on Camera

The sound, Velaidum recalled, was like “someone dropped a stack of dishes,” a surprisingly ordinary description for an extraordinary event. He and Kelly might not have given it a second thought if a neighbor hadn’t also heard the commotion. Upon investigating, they found small fragments of space rock scattered across their walkway and a tiny, roughly 2-centimeter-wide crater. The doorbell camera footage, now a piece of scientific history, immortalized the moment.

Geologist Decodes the Celestial Message

Geologist Chris Herd at the University of Alberta received the fragments for analysis. He identified the meteorite as an ordinary chondrite, the most common type found on Earth. These space rocks are essentially time capsules, comprised of the primordial materials that swirled around the early solar system. “As the first and only meteorite from the province of PEI,” Herd stated, “the Charlottetown Meteorite sure announced its arrival in a spectacular way. No other meteorite fall has been documented like this, complete with sound.”

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A Close Encounter and a Scientific Jackpot

This event is significant for several reasons. It’s the first recorded meteorite impact in PEI’s history, and it was a remarkably close call for Velaidum, who had been near the impact zone moments before. The meteorite, though small, traveled at an estimated 124 miles per hour upon impact, carrying enough energy to cause significant injury. Instead, it provided a remarkable opportunity for scientific discovery.

What are the Odds?

This event begs the question: how often do meteorites hit Earth? While large impacts are rare, smaller meteorites likely enter Earth’s atmosphere much more frequently than we realize, mostly burning up before reaching the ground.

Doorbell Cameras: The New Meteorite Detectors?

The PEI meteorite highlights the potential of readily available technology in scientific discovery. Countless home security cameras constantly record, potentially capturing unseen events. This incident may herald a new era of meteorite detection, with home security footage and citizen science initiatives playing a crucial role.

The Science Behind the Sound

The Charlottetown meteorite’s audio recording is scientifically invaluable. While we’ve seen meteor videos, hearing the impact is novel. The doorbell camera’s microphone picked up a distinct “boom,” likely caused by the meteorite’s sudden deceleration and explosion upon impact. This audio provides data about the meteorite’s speed, trajectory, and potentially even its composition, opening new avenues for research.

What Exactly Fell from the Sky?

The meteorite, identified as an ordinary chondrite, left a small crater (approximately 2cm x 2cm) and scattered around 102 grams of fragments. While seemingly small, these fragments hold clues about the early solar system.

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How Often Do These Cosmic Deliveries Happen?

While meteorites impact Earth more often than we might think, most fall into oceans or uninhabited areas. The Charlottetown event, captured on camera with sound, is incredibly rare and highlights the potential of everyday technology for scientific discovery.

Homeowner Recounts the Impact

“It sounded like someone dropped a stack of dishes,” Velaidum recounted, a down-to-earth description of an otherworldly event. The impact left a small, star-shaped mark and a two-centimeter crater. Initially, only seven grams of the meteorite were recovered, but thanks to Dr. Herd’s investigation, additional fragments were found, bringing the total to about 95 grams.

A New Era of Meteorite Hunting?

The Charlottetown event raises exciting possibilities for meteorite detection. Could our security cameras and dashcams become a network of cosmic sentinels? This opens up avenues for citizen science, where everyday people contribute to scientific discovery.

Expert Analysis of the Meteorite

The sound recorded wasn’t a Hollywood-style explosion but a sharp crack, likely due to the meteorite’s sudden deceleration at roughly 125 mph (200 kph). The impact left a small, star-shaped mark and scattered approximately 102 grams of an ordinary chondrite meteorite—a time capsule from the early solar system.

Are Meteorites Constantly Bombarding Earth?

Meteorites enter Earth’s atmosphere frequently, but most are small and burn up. Larger meteorites like the one in Charlottetown are less common, and destructive impacts are exceedingly rare.

Ongoing Research and Unanswered Questions

While much is known about meteorites, ongoing research continues to refine our understanding. Some believe studying them can provide insights into planet formation and the potential for extraterrestrial life. The Charlottetown meteorite’s trajectory and speed are still being analyzed, and further research will likely reveal more about its composition and origin. This event adds a valuable piece to the puzzle of our solar system’s history.

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