Bright Fireball spotted over Michigan

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Over 610 fireball reports from 7 states

The AMS has received over 610 reports so far about of a fireball event seen above Michigan on January 16th, 2018 around 08:10pm EST (January 17th 01:10 Universal Time). The fireball was seen primarily from Michigan but was also seen from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Ontario (Canada).

If you witnessed this event and/or if you have a video or a photo of this event, please
Submit an Official Fireball Report

If you want to learn more about Fireballs: read our Fireball FAQ.

This was a very slow moving meteor – speed of about 28,000 miles per hour (45,000km/hour). This fact, combined with the brightness of the meteor (which suggests a fairly big space rock), shows that the object penetrated deep into the atmosphere before it broke apart (which produced the sounds heard by at least 77 observers). It is likely that there are meteorites on the ground near this region.

Witness Location and first estimated ground trajectory – AMS Event #168-2018

Videos

3 witnesses shared a video of the event through the AMS Fireball Form. All the videos can be found on the related event page.

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13 comments

  • Susan McInally 7 years ago

    We saw the fireball in Belleville Michigan and heard a loud boom and felt our house shake, causing our German Shepherd to bark like crazy

    Reply to Susan
  • Dirk vanderdoe 7 years ago

    Morning. We seen it last night on our way north on I 75 close to saint Helen mich. we meaning two trucks. Was pretty cool to see.

    Have a awesome day.⛵️

    Reply to Dirk
  • Lawrence Galazyn 7 years ago

    I felt it at 8:44pm on 08/16/2018, did not realize it was a meteor, it lasted 1.2sec I felt rumble and heard it. I thought it was heavy thunder ,loud that’s awesome

    Reply to Lawrence
  • Jeremy 7 years ago

    Would it have been possible to see this from South Central Kentucky? I was northbound, on my way home, at the time and saw a bright light for a second but I just dismissed it as a bright star I had never noticed that became blocked by the trees. I’m located about 450 miles SSW of Detroit.

    Reply to Jeremy
    • Robert Lunsford 7 years ago

      Jeremy and All,

      Yes it could have been seen from northern Kentucky and in fact we have several reports from that area of this object.

      Robert Lunsford

      Reply to Robert
  • Aaron Sweeney 7 years ago

    WMTV nbc15.com in Madison, Wisconsin caught a video of this.

    Reply to Aaron
  • Jason Argiro 7 years ago

    Thanks for clarifying. If there has not been a meteorite found on the ground, perhaps some are correct in calling this a meteor and not meteorite. Only if there is a piece found on the ground would the term meteorite be correct. How would one know that it is from the same event if a fragment is found on the ground?

    Reply to Jason
    • Robert Lunsford 7 years ago

      Jason and All,

      Meteorites do not last on the surface very long. They are either discovered, buried, or washed to some other location. If meteorites are found in the general vicinity of the end point of this fireball, we can safely consider them to belong to this particular fireball.

      Robert Lunsford

      Reply to Robert
  • Dan newmaster 7 years ago

    we are located north west of of Paris, Ontario Canada.
    My son (14 years of age) was in bed facing the north/west, and saw a large flash at that exact time and came running into the living room where we were, and asked if we saw the bright flash and what it was?

    Reply to Dan
  • Anita Wood 7 years ago

    We were indoors with the blinds closed and did not see anything, but heard it and got scared.It sounded like a big truck rumbling through the yard right up next to the house or something. My sister felt a shaking, but I did not. In Auburn Hills, Michigan

    Reply to Anita
  • Tom 7 years ago

    About 0015 AM Thursday Jan 18 2018 I saw a long bright a little north of due east from Barnesville GA. It was about 30 degrees and dropped vertically and dropped behind the tree line. Probably a 5 second drop duration. Sorry I cannot do any better. I was driving! I’m absolute about this.

    Reply to Tom

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