Meteorite strikes Prince Edward Island in extraordinary event
Homeowners on Prince Edward Island, Canada, made an astonishing discovery after finding an unusual star-shaped pattern of grey dust on their walkway. The phenomenon turned out to be the aftermath of a meteorite crash, an event that was dramatically captured by their doorbell security camera.
Curious about the mysterious dust, the residents reviewed their footage and were stunned to witness a space rock plummeting to Earth and striking their property. The remarkable event was reported by CBS News.
A rare celestial occurrence
While meteorites occasionally make their way to Earth, such events are rare, and even fewer are captured on video.
First-ever video and sound recording of a meteorite impact
The doorbell camera footage not only captured the visual spectacle of the meteorite’s impact but also recorded its sound—a groundbreaking achievement in meteorite documentation.
Experts described the sound as akin to glass shattering or a pot crashing to the ground. According to Professor Chris Herd, a meteorite specialist from the University of Alberta, this is the first time both video and audio of a meteorite fall have been recorded.
“No other meteorite fall has been documented like this, complete with sound,” Professor Herd said. “It adds a whole new dimension to the natural history of the Island.”
Expert examination of the fragments
Professor Herd traveled to the homeowners’ property 10 days after the incident to investigate the impact site. By then, the homeowners had collected several fragments, totaling about 7 grams, which they found near the crash site. Using a vacuum and magnet, additional samples were retrieved.
Herd confirmed that the fragments were from a meteorite, identifying it as an “ordinary chondrite” — a type of meteorite primarily composed of silicate minerals.
This unprecedented documentation offers scientists invaluable insights into meteorite impacts and their interactions with Earth. For the homeowners of Prince Edward Island, it was a brush with the cosmos that left behind both scientific treasures and an unforgettable story.
