Meteorite Hunters Seek Fragments After Fireball Over Ohio

A 7-ton meteoroid disintegrated over Valley City, Ohio, around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, creating a fireball visible from Wisconsin to Maryland. The event produced a sonic boom that rattled buildings and caused concerns of an explosion. NASA confirmed the meteoroid was nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter.

In Medina, Ohio, resident December Harris reported that her cousin and roommate, Ambra Sinclair, discovered a small black rock suspected to be a meteorite near their garage. Harris described the rock as triangular, less than 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter, and "very, very black," with pits, grooves, and a melted texture on its exterior. They handled the rock with a napkin and placed it in a jar, seeking authentication.

Meteorite collector Roberto Vargas traveled from Bristol, Connecticut, to Ohio upon learning of the meteor sightings. After hours of searching, he found a suspected meteorite on Wednesday and a second piece on Thursday, which he described as "100% fusion crusted," a museum-quality specimen he plans to keep.

Local resident Gabe Leidy, 39, searched for fragments after hearing the boom. He found a rock resembling a meteorite and has received offers for it but intends to keep it as a memento of the rare event.

Meteorite hunters continue to search the area, speculating that larger fragments, possibly up to 20 pounds (9 kilograms), may still be undiscovered.