A luminous object splitting near Cleveland, Ohio

Summary

A brilliant orange object was observed on February 23, 1958, three miles west of Cleveland, Ohio. Witnesses reported a slow-moving object traveling low over the sky from east to west, which split into five sections. The object's bright orange color and trajectory led analysts to consider it a bolide, a type of meteor that disintegrates in the atmosphere. The sighting lasted about 10 seconds, with no photos or radar data recorded.

The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) concluded it was likely an astronomical phenomenon, such as a meteor. Despite this, the detailed description and multiple eyewitness accounts generated some interest. The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper reported numerous calls from people describing the event, indicating it was a visible and notable occurrence.