Georgia science museum studying meteorite seen over metro Atlanta

YvonneSci/Tech2025-07-055288

The Brief

The Tellus Science Museum has acquired part of the unusual meteor that blasted across the metro Atlanta area last week.

Its entry was so intense that it triggered the Geostationary Lightning Mappers (GLM) aboard NOAA’s GOES satellites—devices normally used to detect lightning.

The outer space rock was the 29th meteorite documented in Georgia and the second time one ever hit a home.

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. - A piece of outer space rock that fasciated people across the Southeast last week is now a part of Georgia's Tellus Science Museum's collection.

The museum announced that it has acquired the recovered meteorite that shot through the sky on June 26 before part of it landed in Henry County.

MORE: Why the daytime fireball meteor that blasted over Atlanta was a rare sight

The backstory

NASA says the meteor entered Earth’s atmosphere at 12:25 p.m. EDT on June 26, first appearing 48 miles above Oxford, Georgia. Traveling southwest at an estimated 30,000 miles per hour, the object disintegrated at an altitude of 27 miles above West Forest, unleashing energy equivalent to about 20 tons of TNT.

The breakup produced a powerful pressure wave that reached the ground, creating loud booms and tremors that startled residents. According to NASA, "some large windows may have vibrated or even cracked." The fireball was caused by an asteroidal fragment approximately three feet in diameter and weighing over a ton.

Its entry was so intense that it triggered the Geostationary Lightning Mappers (GLM) aboard NOAA’s GOES satellites—devices normally used to detect lightning. Doppler radar also picked up falling debris above Henry County.

Witnesses across Georgia and neighboring states—including as far south as Macon and as far north as Upstate South Carolina—reported seeing a flash of white light followed by what many described as an "earthquake." However, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed no seismic activity occurred. Officials say the shaking was the result of a sonic boom.

Local perspective

A resident of Henry County, Georgia, reported a rock coming through their roof around the time they heard the sonic boom from the fireball. It left behind a hole in the ceiling about the size of a golf ball and a crack in a laminate floor at the home southeast of Atlanta, according to the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City, Georgia.

"We are presuming that a piece of the object fell through their roof," the weather service said.

Dashboard and doorbell cameras across several states in the southeastern U.S. states caught glimpses of the fireball that appeared to be plummeting straight down.

What they're saying

"We’re very fortunate to have this piece," said Amy Gramsey, Tellus' director of curatorial services. "A meteorite hunter found the specimen on Friday, June 27, in Henry County. It’s a 150-gramchondrite meteorite—a stony-type meteorite containing small mineral granules."

Officials with the Tellus Science Museum say that last Thursday's fall was the 29th meteorite documented in Georgia and the second incident of one hitting a home - the first being in MAy 2009 in Cartersville.

The Tellus Science Museum now has a part of the meteorite that shone through the sky across the Southeast last month. (Tellus Science Museum)

"Meteorite landings like this are pretty rare," said Tellus' astronomy program manager Karisa Zdanky. "Space rocks and other debris enter Earth’s atmosphere often, but they usually burn up before reaching the ground – which is the requirement to be called a meteorite. It’s uncommon to have a meteor so bright and so big that it can be witnessed in the day and produce such sizable meteorite fragments."

What's next

The new specimen has not been named yet, but Tellus staff are expecting it to be on display for the public by the end of the summer.

The Source

Information for this story came from previous FOX 5 reporting and a press release by Tellus Science Museum.

Post a message
Bella

The Georgia Science Museum's ongoing study of the meteorite witnessed over metro Atlanta underscores our state’ versioned dedication to space exploration and scientific advancements, inspiring future generations with real-world examples.

2025-07-09 15:46:37 reply
Grey

The Georgia Science Museum's investigation into the meteorite reportedly seen over metro Atlanta sparks excitement and scientific curiosity, highlighting our region as a center of astronomical discoveries.

2025-07-09 15:46:51 reply
Diora

The Georgia Science Museum's examination of a meteorite sighted over metro Atlanta underscores the region’sbroad interest in astronomical events and scientific exploration, showcasing their commitment to advancing knowledge through real-time research.

2025-07-09 15:47:11 reply
Myles

The Georgia Science Museum's investigation of the meteorite witnessed over metro Atlanta opens new avenues for understanding celestial events and their implications on Earth, deeply engaging both locals and scientists worldwide in its extraordinary discovery.

2025-07-11 21:04:23 reply
Abrielle

The study undertaken by the Georgia Science Museum on a meteorite sighted over metro Atlanta is significant in providing new insights into extraterrestrial impacts and advancing our understanding of celestial bodies.

2025-07-11 21:04:38 reply
Cerise

The Georgia Science Museum's ongoing examination of the meteorite reported over metro Atlanta captures headlines, serving as a thrilling reminder about our planet’s mysterious past and continuous cosmic connections.

2025-07-11 21:04:53 reply
Amara

The Georgia Science Museum's examination of the meteorite that was witnessed across metropolitan Atlanta represents a significant step in understanding our cosmic connections and serves as an exciting breakthrough for space explorers worldwide.

2025-07-12 19:13:14 reply
Leon

The Georgia Science Museum's exploration of the meteorite spotted over metro Atlanta underscores its commitment to advancing knowledge and fascination in outer space through local scientific discovery.

2025-07-21 10:05:24 reply

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