A ‘watermelon-sized’ meteorite crashed into a family’s home in Houston and now sits in their bedroom

A meteorite recently crashed into a Houston home.

We have learnt that some meteorites reach our planet’s surface, mostly breaking apart from their original size as they burn through our atmosphere. But occasionally, one smaller piece makes it through the gauntlet of gravity to come crashing down to the surface of Earth.

How did the Houston family react to space debris crashing through their roof?

How the occasional visitor from space makes its way to Earth

Firstly, no, we are not talking about aliens from another planet.

We are, in fact, referring to the occasional space rock that makes it through our atmosphere to land on the surface of the Earth. Most of these cosmic visitors come from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

They make their way to us via gravitational forces from Jupiter and other planets.

They are “nudged” out of their orbit mostly through gravity, but we also know that even sunlight can cause these asteroids to move. They absorb solar radiation and eventually radiate it back out as heat, creating a tiny thrust that forces them out of orbit.

The world has begun a new era of space exploration and study, finally

Over the past decade, we have reached astonishing developments in technology that enable us to study the universe in new ways, or at least far better than ever before. Remarkable new telescopes, both on Earth and in space, have revolutionized our ability to study the cosmos.

The Vera Rubin Telescope has given us the clearest and most concise images of the early galaxies in the universe.

The world celebrated as the Artemis II Mission successfully launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida just a few days ago. NASA is not only reaching for the Moon for the first time in half a century, but the astronauts on board will also undergo stress and psychological tests while en route.

According to NASA, the plan is to send yearly crafts to the Moon.

According to the iconic space exploration agency, it will send the first manned crew to touch down on the Moon’s surface for over 50 years in 2028. Much of the world has been enamored by our latest venture into space.

The astronauts will pass by the dark side of the Moon before returning to Earth in a week or so.

A Houston family received a cosmic visitor recently

The most recent development in raising public interest in space has not come from NASA or the government.

In fact, when a meteorite crashed through the roof of Sherrie James’ home in the Houston area, the family was catapulted into stardom as the world learnt the details of this latest cosmic visitor to Earth.

Astronauts have been studying the very chemical makeup of asteroids for an exceedingly long time.

But to get a meteorite crashing through your roof must be a dream for some in the scientific community, like bringing the stars right into your home. So, how did this space rock make its way to the Houston area?

A 35,000 mph watermelon-sized meteorite that now sits in a bedroom

NASA has confirmed that the meteorite was roughly three feet in diameter before it broke apart. When it came crashing towards the James home in Ponderosa Forest, the family, and almost everyone in a 50-mile radius, heard a loud sonic boom.

On Saturday, March 21, the meteorite came crashing through the James family home’s roof before ricocheting around and landing in the upstairs bedroom.

So while the majority of the world is focused on how we are venturing back into space, this family simply had space come to them through the 35,000 mph watermelon-sized meteorite that now sits in their bedroom as an ornament.