26-Ton Meteor Crashes Into Houston, Witnessed From San Antonio
A 3-foot wide, 26-ton meteor crashed into Texas over the weekend. While it broke apart over Houston, folks in San Antonio reported seeing it.
San Antonio Reports Seeing 26-Ton Meteor That Crashed Into Houston
Residents across South Texas were treated to a spectacular and startling celestial event over the weekend when a 26-ton meteor streaked across the sky before breaking apart over Houston. The space rock, estimated to be approximately three feet wide, entered Earth's atmosphere at tremendous speed, creating a brilliant fireball that was visible for hundreds of miles. Witnesses in San Antonio, located roughly 200 miles west of Houston, reported seeing the dramatic flash of light and took to social media to share their accounts of the rare event.
San Antonio residents described the meteor as a bright streak of light that illuminated the evening sky for several seconds. Many initially mistook the phenomenon for lightning or fireworks before learning the true cause. Local authorities in San Antonio received numerous calls from concerned citizens who were unsure of what they had witnessed. Videos and photographs captured by residents quickly circulated online, showing the glowing trail left behind as the meteor made its fiery descent toward the Houston area.
Scientists confirmed that the meteor fragmented as it entered the denser layers of the atmosphere above Houston, and most of the debris is believed to have burned up before reaching the ground. Researchers from local universities and NASA are currently analyzing data from the event to determine if any meteorite fragments may have survived the descent and landed in the greater Houston area. Experts noted that while meteors of this size entering the atmosphere are not extraordinarily rare, witnessing one break apart so visibly over a major metropolitan area is an uncommon occurrence.
Authorities have urged residents in the Houston area to report any unusual rocks or debris they may find but to avoid handling potential meteorite fragments without proper guidance. Scientists say events like this serve as a reminder of the constant activity occurring in near-Earth space and the importance of monitoring programs that track such objects. No injuries or property damage have been reported in connection with the event, and researchers say the public was never in significant danger due to the meteor's relatively small size and its breakup high in the atmosphere.