Tracing Michigan’s Meteoric Past

February 1, 2018

Freep reporter Robert Allen looks back at the history of Michigan’s meteors.

A meteor hit Michigan a few weeks ago. It seems like the whole state took notice as social media blew up. 

Detroit Free Press reporter, Robert Allen, decided to see how people reacted when meteors hit Michigan in the past. 

Allen speaks with WDET’s Ryan Patrick Hooper about what he learned. 

Allen found out about a giant crater in southwest Michigan that was formed after a prehistoric meteor struck Michigan 450 millions years ago. 

“If it hit today it would actually kill millions of people,” says Allen. 

Allen also found out that former Michigan Governor George Romney saw a meteor about the same size as the one that hit Michigan a few weeks ago from an airplane.

“(Romney) thought we were under attack.” 

Click on the audio player above for the full conversation. 

Author

  • Ryan Patrick Hooper inside the WDET studio.
    Ryan Patrick Hooper is the award-winning host of "In the Groove" on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. Hooper has covered stories for the New York Times, NPR, Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit, SPIN and Paste magazine.

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