NASA Confirms Meteor Caused 'Booms' Over Houston

Loud noises heard by residents were likely from a meteor entering the atmosphere.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 1:44am

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NASA has confirmed that a meteor was the cause of the loud booms heard by residents in the Houston, Texas area on March 22, 2026. The space agency said the meteor likely entered the Earth's atmosphere and broke apart, creating the booming sounds that alarmed many in the region.

Why it matters

Meteors entering the atmosphere are a relatively common occurrence, but they don't always result in noticeable booms or other effects that are detected by the public. This event highlights how even small meteors can create dramatic sounds when they break apart in the sky.

The details

According to NASA, the meteor was estimated to be around 1 meter in diameter as it entered the atmosphere at a shallow angle. As it broke apart, the rapid deceleration and fragmentation caused a series of sonic booms that were heard by residents across the Houston metropolitan area.

  • The booms were reported by Houston residents on the evening of March 22, 2026.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

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The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that even small meteors entering the atmosphere can create dramatic effects that are noticeable to the public, underscoring the need for continued monitoring and study of these celestial events.