tech
March 18, 2026
Seven-ton meteor, nearly two meters in diameter, panicked residents of US states
A seven-ton meteor that flew across the sky over Cleveland on Tuesday at a speed of 72,420 kilometers per hour before disintegrating with thunder, frightened residents who thought an explosion had occurred nearby.
TL;DR
- A 7-ton meteor, 1.83 meters in diameter, was observed over Cleveland, traveling at 72,420 km/h.
- The meteor broke apart with a thunderous sound, releasing energy equivalent to 250 tons of TNT.
- Sightings were reported across a wide area, from Wisconsin to Maryland.
- NASA confirmed the meteor's path, first seen over Lake Erie and breaking up near Medina, Ohio.
- It is common for meteors to fall in the US daily, with smaller dust particles entering even more frequently.
- Scientists track meteors using specialized cameras, and increasingly, public recordings from mobile phones and surveillance systems.