A rescue dog in Millis, Massachusetts, was startled by a loud sonic boom after a meteor exploded off the coast on May 30 [3].
The incident highlights the physical impact of atmospheric celestial events on local residents and pets, as the shockwave was felt across the New England region.
The dog, named Chicken and owned by Angela Chansky, was captured on video reacting to the sudden noise. The footage shows the animal's distress as the sound of the explosion reached the Millis area.
According to reports, the meteor entered the atmosphere and detonated over the ocean. The resulting explosion produced a boom with energy equivalent to 300 tons of TNT [1]. This massive release of energy created a shockwave that traveled inland, rattling windows, and alerting animals across several states.
The explosion occurred at approximately 2:11 EST [2]. While the blast was powerful enough to cause widespread alarm, the event was a natural phenomenon resulting from the meteor's interaction with the Earth's atmosphere.
Residents across Massachusetts and neighboring areas reported hearing the sound, which many initially mistook for thunder or industrial accidents. The video of Chicken has since circulated as a testament to how sensitive animals are to the low-frequency sounds produced by such high-energy atmospheric events.
“The resulting explosion produced a boom with energy equivalent to 300 tons of TNT”
This event demonstrates the potential for small celestial bodies to create significant acoustic and seismic disturbances upon entering the atmosphere. While the meteor detonated over the ocean and posed no direct threat to land, the energy release—comparable to hundreds of tons of explosives—illustrates the volatility of space debris entering the U.S. airspace.
