For Possibly the First Time Ever, a Meteorite Was Captured Hitting the Ground on Video and Audio

Imagine standing in your front yard, enjoying the stillness of a quiet morning, unaware that the cosmos is about to send a visitor your way—a visitor traveling millions of miles through space, destined to land right where you had been just moments earlier. For Joe Velaidum of Prince Edward Island, Canada, this wasn’t a scene from a sci-fi thriller but a surreal and life-altering reality. One summer day, a small fragment of the universe quite literally came crashing down, narrowly missing him and leaving behind a trail of debris—and a mystery.

An Ordinary Day Turned Extraordinary

It was a day like any other for Joe Velaidum, a resident of Marshfield, Prince Edward Island. On a calm summer morning in July, Velaidum and his partner, Laura, were getting ready to take their dogs for a walk—a simple routine they’d done countless times before. As they prepared to leave, Joe paused for a seemingly insignificant reason: to move a dog leash off the lawn, knowing landscapers were scheduled to mow the grass later that day. Little did he know, this small, unplanned act would change the course of his life.

Moments after they left their home, a meteorite entered Earth’s atmosphere at breakneck speed, hurling toward the very spot where Velaidum had just been standing. Reflecting on the event later, he said, “If I had stayed in that exact spot for just a minute or two longer, I would certainly have been hit by a meteor and probably would have been killed.” The thought of such a close encounter with cosmic debris is almost incomprehensible, underscoring the unpredictability of meteorite impacts and how they can turn a mundane moment into something extraordinary—and potentially deadly.

When Velaidum returned from his walk, he noticed dark, unusual debris scattered on the walkway outside his home. Puzzled, he reviewed footage from his door camera to try to determine the source of the strange fragments. To his astonishment, the video showed a meteorite hurtling through the sky, culminating in a small explosion on impact. The camera captured not only the visuals of the descent but also the crackling sound of the meteorite striking the ground—a rare and groundbreaking occurrence in the study of meteorites. This brief but dramatic moment transformed a quiet day into a cosmic spectacle, with Velaidum unknowingly at the center of it all.

Scientific Revelations: Insights from Space Rock

The meteorite fragments left behind by the impact didn’t just hold the remnants of a fleeting cosmic event—they carried within them the secrets of the universe’s ancient past. Recognizing the potential significance of the debris, Velaidum meticulously collected samples, gathering approximately 7 grams (0.24 ounces) to send to Dr. Chris Herd, a professor and curator of the University of Alberta’s meteorite collection.

Upon receiving the samples, Herd conducted detailed analyses and confirmed that the fragments were chondrites. These meteorites are some of the oldest materials in the Solar System, formed over 4.5 billion years ago during its infancy. Composed of primordial dust and minerals, chondrites are considered time capsules, offering scientists a rare opportunity to study the early processes that shaped planets, moons, and other celestial bodies.

“It’s mind-blowing to think that this hunk of rock traveled hundreds of millions of miles and landed on our front doorstep,” Velaidum remarked, marveling at the cosmic journey of the meteorite. This fragment, born in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, likely traveled through space for millions—or even billions—of years before meeting its fate on Earth.

In addition to its composition, the meteorite’s journey through Earth’s atmosphere was a point of fascination for scientists. Initially traveling at an estimated 60,000 kilometers per hour (37,282 miles per hour), the meteorite slowed to a terminal velocity of approximately 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour) before striking the ground. This deceleration was caused by atmospheric drag, a process that prevents smaller meteoroids from causing catastrophic damage upon impact. The detailed documentation of the meteorite’s velocity, trajectory, and physical effects provides invaluable data for researchers studying the physics of meteoroid entry and impact.

What truly sets this event apart, however, is the unique capture of both video and audio evidence. Dr. Herd noted that no meteorite fall has ever been documented this way, adding, “It’s not anything we’ve ever heard before.” The auditory signature of the meteorite impact offers a new dimension for studying such events, allowing researchers to analyze the sound waves produced by meteoroid entry and ground impact. This breakthrough opens the door to new methods of meteorite detection and analysis, potentially aiding efforts to track and study these elusive celestial phenomena in the future.

Notable Meteorite Impacts Captured on Video

While the Charlottetown meteorite event stands out for capturing both video and audio of a meteorite impact—a first in recorded history—there have been other significant instances where meteorite falls were documented on video. These recordings have provided valuable insights into the behavior and effects of meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere.

The Chelyabinsk Meteor (2013)

On February 15, 2013, a massive meteor blazed across the morning skies of Chelyabinsk, Russia, creating a spectacle that stunned millions. Traveling at an incredible speed of 19 kilometers per second (69,000 kilometers per hour or 42,690 miles per hour), the meteor penetrated Earth’s atmosphere, creating a brilliant fireball visible from hundreds of kilometers away. At an altitude of about 30 kilometers (19 miles), the meteor exploded in an airburst, releasing energy equivalent to approximately 500 kilotons of TNT—roughly 30 times the energy of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. This powerful explosion shattered windows across six cities, injuring about 1,600 people, many of whom were hurt by flying glass. It caused structural damage to buildings, schools, and factories, creating a wave of shock and awe. Thanks to the prevalence of dashcams in Russia, the event was captured from multiple angles, producing an extensive library of video evidence that allowed scientists to analyze the meteor’s trajectory, size, and composition. This unprecedented footage has since become a cornerstone for understanding the dynamics of large meteor impacts on Earth, as well as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by near-Earth objects. 

The Peekskill Meteorite (1992)

On the evening of October 9, 1992, the skies over the eastern United States lit up with the fiery descent of the Peekskill meteorite. Witnessed by thousands of people across several states, the fireball blazed a bright, dramatic trail through the atmosphere. Its descent was uniquely captured by at least 16 independent videographers attending a high school football game in Peekskill, New York. This extraordinary documentation made the Peekskill meteorite one of the most well-recorded meteorite events in history. The meteorite, weighing about 12.4 kilograms (27.3 pounds), didn’t just provide a spectacular visual display—it also left a lasting impression, literally. The space rock struck a parked 1980 Chevrolet Malibu, leaving a significant dent and earning the car a place in meteorite lore. Scientists were able to use the detailed footage to reconstruct the meteorite’s trajectory and calculate its pre-atmospheric orbit, offering valuable insights into its origin. The Peekskill meteorite remains a celebrated example of how video documentation can revolutionize the study of meteorites.

The Bone Meteorite (2009)

On October 8, 2009, a large fireball streaked across the sky over Bone, Sulawesi, Indonesia, creating a stunning but fleeting display for those fortunate enough to witness it. The meteor, estimated to be about 10 meters (33 feet) in diameter, entered Earth’s atmosphere and exploded at an altitude of 15 to 20 kilometers. The energy released by the explosion was immense—approximately 50 kilotons of TNT, more than twice the power of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. The event was detected by infrasound stations located thousands of kilometers away, which provided critical data about the energy release and size of the object. Although the remote location limited the availability of visual footage, the few recordings that exist have been invaluable to researchers studying the frequency and hazards of similar events. The Bone meteorite served as a sobering reminder of the potential devastation that larger meteoroids could cause if they were to strike more densely populated areas. This incident reinforced the importance of global monitoring systems to track near-Earth objects and mitigate potential risks.

A Glimpse into the Cosmos’ Unpredictable Wonders

The story of Joe Velaidum’s close encounter with a meteorite is not just a tale of cosmic serendipity—it’s a rare and extraordinary reminder of humanity’s connection to the universe. From the debris left behind on his walkway to the unprecedented video and audio evidence of the impact, this event represents a groundbreaking moment in the study of meteorites. It captures the delicate balance between the routine and the extraordinary, where everyday life can be transformed in an instant by forces far beyond our control.

More than just a spectacle, this meteorite’s journey from the asteroid belt to Earth opens a window into the ancient history of our Solar System. The discovery of chondrite fragments, among the oldest materials in existence, offers scientists invaluable data for unraveling the mysteries of planetary formation. The addition of audio documentation provides a new dimension for studying the dynamics of meteorite entry and impact, pushing the boundaries of what we know about these celestial phenomena.

The Charlottetown meteorite event joins the ranks of other notable meteorite impacts that have left indelible marks on science and history. From the Chelyabinsk explosion to the Peekskill car strike, these encounters remind us of Earth’s constant interaction with the cosmos—a relationship that is as dynamic as it is unpredictable.

In a world where the vastness of space often feels distant and abstract, events like this ground us in the reality that we are part of a much larger universe. They encourage us to remain curious, to embrace discovery, and to marvel at the moments when the extraordinary quite literally falls into our lives. The story of this meteorite isn’t just about a rock crashing to Earth; it’s a testament to the mysteries still waiting to be explored—and the profound ways they can intersect with the everyday.