Suspected Meteor Lights Up Cleveland Sky

Fireball seen across multiple states as object streaks through atmosphere

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:39pm

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A suspected meteor fell over the Cleveland, Ohio area on Tuesday, shaking homes and startling residents who heard a loud boom. The fireball was seen by people hundreds of miles away, from Wisconsin to Maryland. Astronomers estimate the object may have been the size of a softball or basketball and entered the atmosphere at high speeds.

Why it matters

Meteor sightings are relatively common, with an estimated one falling somewhere in the U.S. about once a day. However, this particular event was unusually bright and visible over a wide geographic area, indicating it was likely a larger than average space rock burning up in the atmosphere.

The details

The American Meteor Society received numerous reports of the bright fireball, which was likely a small asteroid or meteoroid entering the Earth's atmosphere. Astronomers say the object would have hit the atmosphere at "many tens of miles per second." While some small fragments may have reached the ground, most of the object likely burned up before impact.

  • The fireball was spotted around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

The players

Carl Hergenrother

The executive director of the American Meteor Society, who provided expert analysis on the event.

Brian Mitchell

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland, who felt the vibrations from the suspected meteor.

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What they’re saying

“This one really does look like it's a fireball, which means it's a meteorite — a small asteroid.”

— Carl Hergenrother, Executive Director, American Meteor Society

“There could be some small fragments, but a lot of it would have burned up in the atmosphere.”

— Brian Mitchell, Meteorologist, National Weather Service in Cleveland

What’s next

Scientists will continue to analyze data and any potential debris from the suspected meteor to learn more about its composition and origin.

The takeaway

This event serves as a reminder that small asteroids and meteoroids regularly enter the Earth's atmosphere, with most burning up harmlessly. However, larger objects could pose a risk, underscoring the importance of continued meteor monitoring and research.