A small asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere over northern Ohio around 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The entry created a powerful sonic boom that was felt and heard as far away as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and parts of upstate New York.
However, the meteor was visible for the first time over Lake Erie and was captured on video by National Weather Service (NWS) personnel in Pittsburgh. The asteroid had a diameter of about 2 meters and weighed between 6 and 7 tons. It traveled at a speed of about 45,000 km per hour, while fast by human standards, NASA describes this as slow for meteorites.
It moved southeast and spread over Valley City, Ohio, with potential meteorites landing in Medina County. Residents were surprised by sounds ranging from trees crashing into roofs to a persistent thunder-like rumble.
In this regard, a message from NASA read: “The fireball, caused by a small asteroid nearly 6 feet in diameter and weighing about 7 tons, moved toward the southeast at 45,000 miles per hour before disintegrating over Valley City.”
Although NASA believes fragments have reached the ground, the NWS reported that much of the rock likely burned up in the atmosphere. NASA notes that most space rocks smaller than a football field disintegrate upon entry; About 17,000 meteorites fall to Earth every year.
