7-ton meteor streaks across the sky over multiple states, causing loud boom

A 7-ton asteroid traveling at 45,000 miles per hour streaked across the sky over multiple states, creating a loud sonic boom that residents mistook for an explosion. The meteor's passage lit up the sky as it passed through the atmosphere, generating the noise as it moved at extreme velocity. Such events are relatively rare in populated areas, though meteorites regularly enter Earth's atmosphere; most burn up or explode harmlessly at high altitude. The incident prompted widespread concern among residents who heard the boom, demonstrating how dramatically visible these celestial events can be even when they pose no danger to the ground.