Meteor boom rattles homes across Massachusetts, Rhode Island

A loud, explosion-like boom rattled homes across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon, prompting a flood of 911 calls and widespread speculation before meteorologists identified a likely extraterrestrial source. The sound, reported shortly after 2 p.m., was heard from Boston and Cambridge to communities as far south as Rhode Island and as far north as Ipswich, with many residents describing house-shaking vibrations.

Emergency services in multiple jurisdictions received hundreds of calls as people reported the jarring noise. A Boston Police Department spokesperson acknowledged receiving numerous calls, describing the situation as bizarre. Initial investigations by police and fire departments found no evidence of ground-based explosions, fires, or structural damage. The United States Geological Survey also confirmed no seismic activity was detected, ruling out an earthquake.

The mystery began to clear as meteorologists analyzed satellite data. Experts pointed to a distinct flash detected by the GOES-19 satellite's Geostationary Lightning Mapper over the Massachusetts coast at the time of the reports. Spaceflight meteorologist Nick Stewart stated the flash...