What does a space rock sound like when it hits the ground? First ever meteorite to land in Prince Edward Island is caught on camera, makes auditory history and ends up in U of A collection

U of A expert says event in the summer of 2024 is likely the first and only time the sound of a meteorite hitting the earth has ever been recorded.

EDMONTON — A star-shaped pattern of grey dust spotted on a walkway outside a Charlottetown, PEI home turned into a history-making find — one that originated in space. 

After becoming curious about the dust in front of their home in July 2024, the homeowners checked their security camera footage and noticed an astonishing sight: the exact moment a rock came out of nowhere and landed on the path, scattering grey dust and fragments across the walk and grass. Blink and you’ll miss it: the rock can only be seen in one frame of the video, which indicates rapid movement, but the exploding dust and sound of the impact was undeniable. It clearly came from the sky and appeared to be a meteorite. 

The homeowners recovered about 7 grams of the rock from the grass next to the walkway, returning to pick up more samples in the coming days using a vacuum and magnet. They also connected with Chris Herd, curator of the University of Alberta’s Meteorite Collection and professor in the Faculty of Science, via the University of Alberta’s Meteorite Reporting System.  

Upon examination of photos of the fragments, Herd confirmed the discovery was, in fact, a meteorite. By chance, he had planned a family trip to Prince Edward Island a mere 10 days after the fall; the trip now included a diversion to check the space where the meteorite landed. With the help of some family members Herd documented the meteorite fragments, measured a 2 x 2 cm divot in the walkway formed by the meteorite’s impact, and recovered a subset of the fragments to become part of the University of Alberta Meteorite Collection. Analysis shows that the newly-named Charlottetown Meteorite is an ordinary chondrite with features that help to explain why it broke apart as it hit the ground.

“As the first and only meteorite from the province of PEI, the Charlottetown Meteorite sure announced its arrival in a spectacular way. No other meteorite fall has been documented like this, complete with sound,” Herd says. “It adds a whole new dimension to the natural history of the Island.”

Pictures and video can be found here. The three photos of the fragments in the dishes are courtesy of the University of Alberta Meteorite Collection. The video and pictures from the landing site are courtesy of the homeowners. 

To speak with Chris Herd about the discovery, please contact:

Sarah Vernon | University of Alberta communications associate | svernon@ualberta.ca