Sometimes, the universe seems to have an uncanny sense of timing, as one Canadian man learned firsthand. Joe Velaidum, standing outside his home on a sunny day, narrowly avoided what could have been a catastrophic event. Moments after stepping away to take his dogs for a walk, a meteorite struck the very spot where he had just been.
“The fact that I was standing there minutes before it hit—it’s chilling,” Velaidum told CBC News. “Had I stayed a bit longer, it could’ve ripped me apart.”
A Near Miss Caught on Camera
In a twist that seems straight out of a sci-fi movie, the incident was recorded by Velaidum’s home security camera, providing rare footage for both the public and scientists. This could be the first instance of a meteorite strike being documented with both visuals and sound, offering invaluable data for researchers.
Chris Herd, curator of the University of Alberta’s meteorite collection, shared his excitement: “We’ve never recorded anything like this before. From a scientific standpoint, this is groundbreaking.”
Video and audio of a meteorite hitting the ground.
There are so many cameras out there that even the rarest things are getting captured now.
Maybe we’ll eventually get a clear shot of a UFO!https://t.co/VmCSIiB0bg pic.twitter.com/iAobuVhEwf
— Mick West (@MickWest) January 14, 2025
The Charlottetown meteorite, traveling at an estimated 200 kilometers per hour (about 125 mph), was so fast that it appeared in just one frame of the video before creating a small explosion of dust upon impact. The audio? A startling boom that could make anyone jump.
The Discovery of a Space Visitor
Returning from his walk, Velaidum noticed an unusual gray, star-shaped dust pattern on his walkway. A closer inspection revealed a tiny crater, about an inch wide, filled with debris. Reviewing the security footage confirmed his suspicion: a meteorite had made an unexpected visit.
Acting quickly, Velaidum collected approximately 95 grams of debris and sent it to the University of Alberta, where researchers verified its extraterrestrial origins. Despite its dramatic entrance, the meteorite itself was made of chondrite, a common type of space rock. Still, its journey to Earth was remarkable.
“It traveled all the way from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter,” Herd explained. “That’s an incredible distance—millions of kilometers.”
While meteorites frequently fall to Earth, few events are recorded with such clarity. The footage provides scientists with unique insights into the behavior and composition of these ancient travelers, deepening our understanding of the cosmos.
For Velaidum, the experience was a stark reminder of our planet’s vulnerability to cosmic debris. Yet, it also offered a rare connection to the vastness of space—a small rock that traveled millions of kilometers before landing just a few steps from his door.
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