In a remarkable astronomical event, a meteorite older than Earth itself crashed into a home in McDonough, Georgia, on June 26, 2023. The meteorite, identified as a chondrite, is estimated to be 4.56 billion years old, surpassing Earth's age by 20 million years, according to researchers at the University of Georgia. The meteorite's dramatic entry was marked by a loud boom and a fireball visible across Georgia and neighboring states.

Scott Harris, a geologist at the University of Georgia, explained that the meteorite's age and composition were determined using optical and electron microscopy. "This particular meteor that entered the atmosphere has a long history before it made it to the ground of McDonough," Harris noted. The meteorite, now named the McDonough meteorite, is the 27th to be recovered from Georgia. Harris emphasized the growing role of technology and public awareness in meteorite recovery, stating, "Modern technology, in addition to an attentive public, is going to help us recover more and more meteorites."

Meanwhile, in central Victoria, Australia, residents were treated to a celestial spectacle as a large meteor streaked across the night sky on a recent Sunday. Witnesses described an extremely bright fireball accompanied by a loud sound. Saskia Reus-Smit from Fryerstown recounted seeing the meteor pass directly overhead, describing it as "like a volcanic rock burning orange." The event was captured on CCTV and shared widely on social media.

Astrophysicist Prof Jonti Horner from the University of Southern Queensland confirmed the meteor's presence, noting its brightness and the subsequent sonic boom. "It was definitely a meteor," Horner stated, adding that while no fragments have been found yet, the event's documentation could aid in future recoveries.