Couple's Close Call with a Meteorite

A couple in Canada experienced a spine-tingling close call when a meteorite struck the ground just outside their home. Remarkably, the incident was caught on their doorbell camera, offering a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into a cosmic event that unfolded two minutes after they had stepped out for a walk.

The Incident

On a July evening, Joe Velaidum and his partner, Laura Kelly, from Prince Edward Island, returned from walking their dogs to discover their brick walkway covered in scattered debris resembling a star-shaped pattern. The extraordinary footage revealed a meteoric object racing across the sky before crashing down with a thunderous roar, sending an explosive cloud of gray dust into the air.

Reflections on the Near Miss

"It's incredibly bizarre to think I was standing just a couple of minutes before the impact. It could have ripped me in half," Velaidum recounted to CBC News, reflecting on the near miss.

Immediate Actions Taken

Upon discovering the debris, the couple immediately took action, cleaning their walkway and recovering approximately 0.24 ounces (7 grams) of material from the grass, as well as an additional 3.1 ounces (88 grams) collected using a vacuum and a magnet. They submitted their findings, along with the video footage, to the University of Alberta.

Confirmation of the Meteorite

There, Chris Herd, a geologist and curator of the meteorite collection, confirmed the significance of the event.

A Historic Recognition

On January 13, The Meteoritical Society bestowed the title of "Charlottetown meteorite" upon this stellar rock, naming it after the Canadian city where it landed. Herd highlighted the historical importance of this incident, stating, "This is the first time we’ve recorded the fall of a meteorite with both video and sound."

Scientific Insights into the Meteorite

The meteorite itself was identified as a typical stony chondrite originating from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Before hitting the Earth at speeds exceeding 125 mph (200 km/h), it traveled through the vastness of space, encountering the planet's atmosphere—a phenomenon that occurs countless times a day, often going unnoticed as most space debris burns up or falls in uninhabited regions.

A Rarity in Human Experience

Witnessing a meteorite impact firsthand is an exceedingly rare occurrence; in fact, only a handful of individuals throughout history have been present at the moment of one. This incident serves as a thrilling reminder of the universe's wonders, reminding us that sometimes, the cosmos can come a little too close for comfort!