A rare daytime fireball disintegrated explosively over Houston on Saturday, March 21, with an estimated force equivalent to 26 tons of TNT. Residents reported hearing loud booms as pressure waves from the meteor's demise reached the ground. The event, which involved an approximately 1-ton (1,000-kilogram) meteor, produced a flash of light detected by lightning mapping instruments aboard NOAA's GOES satellites.
NASA's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division (ARES) stated that most of the mass of such an object is reduced to atoms and fine droplets during atmospheric entry, with only a small percentage surviving to reach the ground as meteorites.
Potential Meteorite Fall Zone
Scientists detected meteor fragments falling through the Texas skies for eight minutes following the meteor's destruction 29 miles (46.6 kilometers) above the community of Bammel in Harris County. The potential fall zone, or "strewn field," for these fragments covers a densely populated area between Willowbrook and Northgate Crossing.
Strewn Field Map Details
A provisional strewn field map created by NASA's ARES division indicates the likely distribution of meteorite fragments. The map uses color coding: red marks the zone where heavier meteorites (around 2.2 pounds or 1 kilogram) may have fallen, and yellow indicates areas for lighter samples (around 0.04 ounces or 1 gram).
ARES noted that this map is provisional and may be updated once a discrepancy between its model and one from NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office is resolved. NASA also cautioned potential meteorite hunters against trespassing on private property.
Identifying Meteorites
Individuals who believe they have found a meteorite are advised to compare it to images of confirmed meteorites online and contact a local university's geology department for advice and potential verification.
It is recommended to handle such samples minimally with bare hands to prevent oils from degrading the ancient material, which dates back to the formation of the solar system.