Meteorites, typically small fragments of larger space rocks that survive their fiery descent through Earth’s atmosphere, are generally thought to strike the surface at significant speeds, resulting in an explosive and forceful impact. This is because they travel through the atmosphere at tremendous velocities, often exceeding 30,000 miles per hour. As they descend, the friction with the atmosphere causes them to heat up intensely, and if they make it to the Earth’s surface without burning up completely, their velocity is still quite substantial upon impact.
However, there are theoretical scenarios where a meteorite could have an unusually soft landing. If a meteoroid enters the atmosphere at a very shallow angle, it could decelerate sufficiently to reduce its velocity significantly by the time it reaches the ground. Additionally, smaller meteoroids with a slower initial velocity can experience a greater deceleration due to atmospheric drag, and if they are small enough and their material composition allows them to withstand the heat and forces encountered during atmospheric entry, they might touch down relatively gently.
In rare instances, meteorites have been observed to decelerate drastically due to dramatic fragmentation high in the atmosphere, effectively acting as a drag-creating parachute. This can slow them enough to mitigate the force of the impact. Nonetheless, these scenarios are exceptions, and even when meteorites “land softly,” they are still typically recorded as having considerable kinetic energy upon arrival, not the gentle settling one might imagine.
Moreover, the term “softly” may be relative here, as even a meteorite striking the Earth without creating a significant crater is still hitting with a force much greater than that of most terrestrial experiences. Hence, while possible under very specific conditions, a truly “soft” meteorite landing is an exceedingly rare occurrence.