Incredible Meteorite Strike Caught on Camera: Homeowner in P.E.I. Makes History!

In a jaw-dropping incident in July, Joe Velaidum of Marshfield, Prince Edward Island, experienced a breathtaking stroke of luck when he narrowly avoided a meteorite crash landing right outside his front door. Just moments after stepping out to walk his dogs, a meteorite plummeted onto his property, shattering on impact with an explosion-like sound that could have had a disastrous outcome if Velaidum had lingered outside just a minute longer.

“I stood right at that spot just before the impact,” Velaidum recounted, expressing disbelief at his fortune. “If I’d seen it coming, it could’ve been catastrophic.”

Velaidum’s home security camera captured not only the striking visuals of the meteorite’s fall but also its formidable sound—a remarkable feat, as scientists believe this could be the very first instance where both audio and video of a meteorite strike have been documented.

Experts in the field, including Chris Herd, curator of the University of Alberta's meteorite collection, have expressed excitement over this discovery. “It's something entirely new for science,” Herd exclaimed. “We've had the chance to analyze the materials thanks to Joe’s cooperation.”

Upon returning from his dog walk, Velaidum discovered dark debris scattered across his lawn. With advice from a friend suggesting the debris might be meteorite fragments, he began collecting samples. Approximately seven grams of this material were sent to Herd for analysis.

It was confirmed that the fragments are, indeed, meteorite pieces. Interestingly, Herd had planned a family trip to Prince Edward Island just days after the fall, allowing him to visit the impact site personally and facilitate further investigation. In total, Velaidum and Herd collected around 95 grams of the space rock.

Upon analysis, the fragments were classified as ordinary chondrite—one of the most common types of meteorites known to fall to Earth. Notably, this meteorite has been aptly named the “Charlottetown Meteorite,” as Marshfield lies just east of the capital city.

Herd explained that meteorites typically enter our atmosphere at staggering speeds, around 60,000 km/h, before decelerating. By the time the rocky object struck Velaidum's dwelling, it was still traveling at an impressive speed of at least 200 km/h.

What sets this event apart from other meteorite crashes is its recording. Herd emphasized that while meteorites are often seen entering the atmosphere with a fiery appearance and can leave physical evidence upon impact, this is the first time recorded audio of such an occurrence has been found when striking a man-made structure.

"This is a remarkable find, and it's the only known meteorite recovered from Prince Edward Island," Herd stated. “Every time something like this happens, we receive a brand new sample from space. This particular rock traveled from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter—now, that's quite a journey!”

As Velaidum reflects on the striking odds that this meteorite's trajectory aligned perfectly to land on his doorstep, he finds himself filled with wonder. “How can one interpret this event except with awe?” he pondered.

This thrilling incident underscores the sheer unpredictability of the cosmos and serves as an example of how lucky circumstances can lead to groundbreaking discoveries in science. Keep your eyes on the skies, because who knows what extraordinary events are waiting to unfold next!