Bright Sky Flash Shakes Ohio and Pennsylvania

A bright streak across the morning sky startled people in Western Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio. The light, described by locals as a “daylight fireball, ” appeared at about 9 a. m. and was followed by a loud boom that made buildings vibrate. Scientists confirmed the event was caused by a small asteroid. NASA said it measured roughly six feet in diameter and weighed about seven tons, or fourteen thousand pounds. The rock entered the atmosphere at a speed of 45, 000 miles per hour and broke apart over Valley City. Some pieces continued southward, landing near Medina County.The first sighting was detected over Lake Erie by a satellite that monitors lightning and other atmospheric flashes. This tool, called the Geostationary Lightning Mapper, can spot brief changes in light from space and helped scientists track the meteor’s path. In addition, ground‑based seismographs recorded the shockwave from the asteroid’s impact. Local weather officials in Cleveland reported no debris had been found yet. A meteorologist noted that most of the asteroid likely burned up in the air, but a few fragments may have survived. People far from the impact zone also reported seeing the bright streak, showing how visible such events can be across large distances.