A meteorite, officially named Charlottetown after the city in Prince Edward Island, Canada, made an extraordinary landing on a couple's walkway. This rare event, captured by a doorbell camera in July, marks the first known footage of its kind. The meteorite was registered on Monday, further confirming its interstellar origins.
Meteorites, like Charlottetown, are bits of space rock that survive a fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere. On average, 43 tonnes of such debris strike Earth each day, according to NASA. However, it is far more common for these rocks to plunge into the ocean than to land on someone's front doorstep. The rarity of this event adds significant value to the footage captured by the Canadian couple's doorbell camera.
Laura Kelly and her partner discovered the meteorite after an evening walk. It was found littered with dust and strange debris on their walkway. The couple promptly reported their find to the University of Alberta's Meteorite Reporting System, where curator Chris Herd examined samples of the debris. His analysis confirmed Charlottetown's extraterrestrial origins.
The incident has intrigued both scientists and the public, as it provides a tangible example of space debris reaching Earth's surface in an unusual location. The meteorite weighed a significant amount, although the exact weight remains unspecified. Such occurrences are invaluable for research, offering a direct glimpse into the composition of celestial objects.