A flash of light fell on Michigan at 8:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, puzzling those viewing it. The lightning-like burst of was visible all the way in New York, according to the Tri-County Times, and represented a meteor entering the atmosphere.   

Before disintegrating in Earth’s atmosphere, the meteor had traveled between 40,000 and 50,000 miles. The disintegration caused a the aforementioned flash and a 2.0 seismic reading, causing viewers to confuse it with thunder and lightning.

According to NASA’s meteoroid environment office, meteors near Michigan are rare, so this occurrence was a remarkable event. However, it’s quite common in other parts of the world. The meteor in question was approximately two yards across and weighed more than a metric ton. Pieces of the meteor are being picked up across the state, where research is being conducted on the pieces found.