In a rare and dramatic event, a meteorite older than Earth streaked across the skies of Georgia, leaving a fiery trail before piercing the roof of a home in McDonough. Traveling faster than the speed of sound, the cherry tomato-sized space rock tore through an air duct, insulation, and ceiling before striking the floor with enough force to leave a crater. Scientists later determined the meteorite was 4.56 billion years old, about 20 million years older than our planet, and that it originated from a collision in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter about 470 million years ago.

Witnesses across Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee reported seeing a dazzling midday fireball, hearing sonic booms, and even feeling the ground shake. Some believed it might be a falling aircraft, while others compared it to a mini sun with a tail of fire. Researchers from the University of Georgia and Arizona State University are studying the fragments and plan to name the specimen the McDonough Meteorite. While too small to pose a threat, scientists say such discoveries help unlock secrets of the solar system's birth and highlight the importance of tracking even the smallest celestial visitors.