A historic meteorite, revealed to be older than the Earth, has recently made headlines after crashing into a home in McDonough, Georgia. This celestial object shot across the sky during daylight on June 26, creating a brilliant fireball and a loud explosion that was witnessed by many residents across several states. NASA has confirmed that the meteorite formed approximately 4.56 billion years ago, predating our planet by about 20 million years.
Upon its descent, the meteorite ripped through the roof of a home in Henry County, arriving at speeds exceeding 1 kilometer per second. Researchers from the University of Georgia have since analyzed a fragment of the rock that struck the residence, confirming its classification as a chondrite— the most common type of stony meteorite.
Scott Harris, a geologist involved in the study, noted that the meteorite carries a significant history that began long before it reached the ground. He and his team utilized advanced optical and electron microscopy to investigate its composition. The impact sent shockwaves, as community members nearby reported seeing the fireball and hearing a powerful booming noise.
The event has been cataloged as the 27th meteorite recovery in Georgia. “Such occurrences used to happen only once every few decades, but now they're becoming more frequent,” Harris remarked, attributing the increase to improved detection technologies and heightened public awareness.
The resident of the impacted house has mentioned still discovering space dust within his property as a result of the meteorite strike. Harris plans to publish comprehensive findings on the speed and makeup of the meteorite, contributing crucial data to assess the potential threat of future asteroid impacts. "One day we may face a significant threat from a large object, and we aim to be prepared," he cautioned.
