Pennsylvania

Fireball! Meteor Moving 45,000 Mph Lights Up Western Pennsylvania Sky

A meteor moving at 45,000 mph lit up the sky over western Pennsylvania early Tuesday.

The space rock, measuring two feet in diameter and weighing roughly 500 pounds, entered Earth's atmosphere above the Pittsburgh suburbs around 4:50 a.m. Tuesday, NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office says. The meteor could be seen in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.

NASA said cameras detected the rock at an altitude of 60 miles above Beaver Falls, northwest of Pittsburgh. The agency says it flared brighter than a full moon as it descended to an altitude of 13 miles above Kittanning, northeast of Pittsburgh.

The agency said the meteor likely came from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

NASA said meteorite fragments may be scattered on the ground east of Kittanning.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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