Meteorite Event in Ohio Creates Sonic Boom Heard Across Pennsylvania

A meteorite event occurred over Ohio on Tuesday morning, producing a significant sonic boom that was felt across a wide area, including parts of Pennsylvania. According to NASA, the meteorite entered Earth's atmosphere at approximately 9 am local time.

The meteorite, described as a small asteroid about 2 meters in diameter and weighing around 6 tons, moved at a speed of 45,000 mph. This event caused widespread reports of a loud boom, with residents in Cleveland and as far east as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and into New York state, describing the sound as similar to fireworks or thunder.

NASA's meteoroid environment office confirmed that the asteroid was spotted near Medina, Ohio. Despite its relatively small size, the meteorite produced a considerable sonic boom, which was captured on video by a National Weather Service (NWS) employee in Pittsburgh.

The NWS's Cleveland office confirmed that satellite data suggested the boom was caused by a meteorite. So far, there have been no reports of debris being found, although it's possible that small fragments may have fallen to Earth.

NASA noted that about 17,000 meteorites fall to Earth annually, but most burn up in the atmosphere. The agency also stated that space rocks smaller than a football field typically break apart in Earth's atmosphere, although they can occasionally explode in mid-air.