Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
We Almost Got <em>Deep Impact</em>ed Yesterday
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 15, 2011
Modified Feb 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 15, 2011
Modified Feb 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Daytime Fireball Map (via), and a still from Deep Impact
Did you see something flying through the sky yesterday afternoon? Don't worry, they aren't coming for us (yet!), turns out it was just a rare mid-day meteor. The sightings quickly accumulated on Twitter, where one woman declared, "Just saw a weird comet-like thingy go over Roosevelt Island." It was also spotted over Manhattan, and as far away as Pennsylvania.
NASA scientist Bill Cooke says it was likely traveling at a speed of 33,500 m.p.h. as it entered the Earth's atmosphere. He added, "My crude estimate of the energy of this fireball is about 100 tons of TNT, which means it was capable of producing a crater 125 feet in diameter and about 15 feet deep." As a comparison, the comet in Deep Impact was almost 3 miles wide!
The American Meteor Society (AMS) confirmed, and noted, "With it terminating over the Atlantic Ocean, there is no hope for recovering any possible debris." Don't even bother looking for the debris of the UFO meteor, nothing to see here!
Tagged
Deep Impact
fireball
meteor
sighting
spotted
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD searching for suspect after fatal stabbing in Queens
Officers responding to a call at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 173rd Street around 1 a.m. found 29-year-old Sulimon Ferrier, who had multiple stab wounds to his chest, police said.
By
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 4:38 p.m. ET
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.
By
Jill Webb
News
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.
By
Jill Webb
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
By
Catalina Gonella
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
By
Willow Higgins
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .