Meteorite hunters search Ohio after 7-ton space rock crashes near Cleveland
Key Takeaways
- ▸A confirmed 7-ton meteoroid crashed near Valley City, Ohio, south of Cleveland, traveling at approximately 45,000 mph before breaking apart
- ▸The impact created a visible fireball seen across multiple states and produced a sonic boom that caused widespread alarm among residents
- ▸Meteorite hunters are actively searching the impact zone for fragments, with at least one suspected meteorite already discovered by a local resident
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Summary
A 7-ton meteoroid crashed into Earth near Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday morning, March 17, 2026, after breaking apart in the atmosphere at approximately 45,000 miles per hour. The near 6-foot diameter space rock created a spectacular fireball visible from hundreds of miles away across multiple states, including Wisconsin to Maryland, and produced a sonic boom that rattled buildings and alarmed residents. NASA confirmed the meteoroid's impact, prompting meteorite hunters to fan out across a wide swath of Ohio in search of fragments. A Medina resident's roommate reportedly discovered a small black rock with a melted texture and pitted surface in the area between their garage and house, which they suspect may be a meteorite fragment.
- NASA confirmed the meteoroid was nearly 6 feet in diameter before atmospheric entry
