Fragments of a meteorite that exploded over Moscow on October 27 likely fell in the Novgorod and Tver regions, according to research by scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences. The meteor, estimated to be about 1 meter in diameter, entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 35 kilometers per second.

The celestial body was visible over several cities, including Vologda, Cherepovets and Yaroslavl, before it began to break down at an altitude of 42 kilometers. A few seconds later, the meteor exploded at an altitude of 32 kilometers, scattering fragments over a wide area that includes Borovichi, Vyshny Volochek, Maksatikha, and Pestovo. Some of the smallest fragments may have landed near the M-11 highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

While the meteorite fragments could have reached the ground at speeds of 2-7 kilometers per second, scientists believe that finding them will be challenging. The area where the fragments are likely located contains a significant number of swamps, lakes, and hard-to-reach forest areas. However, scientists do not exclude the possibility that some fragments could have fallen near settlements and may be detectable due to the meteor’s metallic composition.

The event on October 27 caused concern among Muscovites, with initial speculation suggesting the object was a bolide entering the atmosphere. Experts later noted that NASA had classified information about an asteroid that could potentially be linked to the explosion.