A fireball soared across the Ohio sky and has been confirmed by NASA to be a meteor.
On March 17, NASA received reports from multiple states in the midwest as the asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere. The meteor began to burn and break apart as it descended toward the ground, which allowed for meteorites to be seen across Ohio.
The meteor caused loud booms throughout the region and was first spotted about 50 miles above Lake Erie shortly before 9 am. It continued to fly through the atmosphere at a speed of 40,000 mph, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
NASA said that the asteroid was around six feet in diameter and weighed seven tons, or 14,000 pounds, before it broke apart. When it did split up, it had an explosive energy of 250 tons, which caused the loud sounds.
Small fragments of the meteor hit the ground with this extreme pressure and made houses shake around Medina county.
These small pieces are scattered all across Northeast Ohio, and meteor hunters have rushed to the area to start their search for evidence of this rare event, according to ABC News Cleveland.
One meteorite hunter, Roberto Vargas, traveled all the way from CT for this opportunity.
“These rocks are like 4.5 billion years old, and they come in from outer space. They tell us about the origins of the species and the creation of the planets,” Vargas said to ABC News Cleveland.
Extremely small meteorites hit Earth daily, but the meteor’s large size and clear visibility, even in the daylight, makes this asteroid a once in a lifetime event. Only 14 asteroids have ever been recorded in Ohio, which makes this a significant occurrence for the state.
The falling meteor also caused multiple sonic booms that were heard around the midwest. Sonic booms happen because of the shock waves produced when something moves faster than the speed of sound. Sonic booms are also relatively rare, which contributes to the uniqueness of this event.
No damage occurred as a result of this meteor. NASA confirmed that it was a natural event, and the public has nothing to worry about.
