I watched a ball of fire, as it flew at a sustained altitude, across the sky going east to west

In 5th grade we were told a comet would pass earth at around 5am.  
As a kid who wanted to be an astronaut, I had to see it for myself. I set my alarm to go watch the comet.  
When I got outside I saw a ball of fire passing across the sky and though it was the comet. The size of the object was about the size of a pencil eraser held at an extended arm length away. I watched as it passed by.   
The object was not falling but holding a straight course going from east to west at a sustained altitude.  
As an 11yr old kid I had no real idea what a comet was other then knowing it flew in space. But it definitely was a Ball of Fire passing at an altitude of roughly 3000 feet high.  It should have been seen going past or over Detroit Metro Airport.
Witness indicates that the date of the sighting is approximate.  PD