A doorbell camera on a Canadian home recently captured a rare event - a meteorite striking Earth as it crashed into a couple's walkway. Laura Kelly and her partner were surprised to find their walkway covered in dust and strange debris after returning home from an evening walk in July. Upon reviewing their security camera footage, they witnessed an object slamming against their entranceway, creating a cloud of smoke and a crackling sound.
The couple reported the incident to the University of Alberta's Meteorite Reporting System, where samples of the debris were examined by curator Chris Herd to confirm its interstellar origins. Meteorites are fragments of space rock that survive the Earth's atmosphere and reach the surface. NASA estimates that about 48 tons (43,500 kilograms) of similar debris enter Earth's atmosphere daily, with most landing in the ocean.
Meteorites are also responsible for the spectacular light displays seen during meteor showers, which occur several times a year. While cameras have captured meteors streaking through the sky before, it is rare to capture the sound of a complete meteorite strike on video.
The space rock that struck the couple's walkway has been officially registered and named Charlottetown, after the city on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada where it landed. This event marks a unique and extraordinary occurrence that sheds light on the fascinating world of meteorites and their impact on Earth.
