The metallic object that hit the New Jersey home was a meteorite

Experts announced Thursday that the metallic object that tore a hole in the roof of a home in central New Jersey this week, slammed into a hardwood floor and bounced around a bedroom, was a meteorite.

Scientists at the College of New Jersey have determined that the 6 by 4 inch object, which weighs about 2.2 pounds, is a rare rock chondrite. meteor. They came to this conclusion after performing a visual inspection, performing density measurements, and scanning electron microscopy images. They were assisted in their work by Jerry Delaney, a retired meteorite expert from Rutgers University and the American Museum of Natural History.

“Having the opportunity to examine the meteorite[Wednesday]was a rare and exciting opportunity for me, as well as for a group of physics students and professors at TCNJ,” said Nathan Magee, chair of the school’s physics department. “We are excited to be able to confirm that the object is a real chondrite meteorite, in perfect condition, and one of very few famous chondrite falls known to science.”

The family that owns the home discovered a black rock the size of a potato in a corner – still warm – around 12:30pm on Monday. the experts I think it hit home shortly before we found it.

Police in the town of Hopewell, north of the state capital, Trenton, said no one was injured and there was no major damage to the home.

Susie Cobb, whose family owns the home, said they initially thought someone had thrown a rock into an upstairs bedroom on Monday, but they soon realized that was not the case. Cobb said hazardous materials officials responded to her home to check in with her familyin the event that they were exposed to some kind of radioactive material, but all these examinations were negative.

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