Historic: Doorbell camera footage captures meteorite crash in Canada

For the first time, a doorbell camera has captured both the sight and sound of a meteorite striking the Earth, marking a significant milestone in scientific documentation.

In July 2024, Joe Velaidum and his partner, Laura Kelly, witnessed the extraordinary event outside their home in Marshfield, Prince Edward Island, according to CBC News.

Velaidum’s Ring camera recorded the meteorite's fiery descent and audible impact as it struck the ground just steps from his front door, leaving a dent in the walkway and scattering debris.


The meteorite, later identified as an ordinary chondrite, travelled from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter before its fateful collision.

After discovering black debris on his property, Velaidum consulted University of Alberta meteorite curator Chris Herd. As per CBC News, Herd confirmed the rock’s extraterrestrial origins and named it the Charlottetown Meteorite, honouring its proximity to the island's capital. In total, 95 grams of fragments were collected, with analysis revealing the rock’s high-speed entry, approximately 60,000 km/h, before slowing to 200 km/h upon impact.

“This event is truly unprecedented,” CBC News quoted Herd. “It’s the first time both the sights and sounds of a meteorite impact have been captured. From a science perspective, it’s new.”

The recently surfaced video not only provides extraordinary visual but also unique auditory evidence of the meteorite’s collision, a breakthrough for researchers studying these rare phenomena.

Velaidum narrowly escaped harm and recounted, “If I’d lingered just minutes longer, I might’ve been standing right in the impact zone. It’s surreal to think that something travelled millions of miles to land right on my doorstep.”

The event left Velaidum and Kelly in awe of the cosmos’ unpredictability. “It’s humbling,” Velaidum said, reflecting on the odds of such a close encounter.

As per PetaPixel, this meteorite is the first ever documented on Prince Edward Island, adding a unique chapter to the island’s history. Herd emphasised its significance: “Every time this happens, it’s a new sample from space—a testament to the wonders of our universe.”