The 7-Ton Meteor Over Cleveland
A Massive Energy Release
Traveling at 45,000 mph, this 6-foot diameter rock unleashed energy equivalent to 250 tons of TNT upon impact with our atmosphere.
Path of the Fireball
The object streaked 34 miles across the sky before fragmenting over Valley City, Ohio, creating a boom heard across multiple states.
Meteor vs. Meteorite
Astronomers classify this as a small asteroid. Its exceptional size and brightness allowed it to be seen from Wisconsin to Maryland.
The Sonic Boom
Residents feared an explosion. This 'thunderous boom' occurs when the object travels faster than the speed of sound, compressing air into a shockwave.
A Daily Occurrence?
Meteors fall over the U.S. roughly once a day. However, events of this scale—7 tons and visible in daylight—are much rarer.
Watching the Skies
NASA and the American Meteor Society continue to track these 'near-Earth objects' to understand the systems of our solar system.