NASA..."Geminid Meteor Shower Defies Explanation"

A Geminid fireball explodes over the Mojave Desert in 2009. Credit: Wally Pacholka / AstroPics.com / TWAN.


Dec. 6, 2010:  The Geminid meteor shower, which peaks this year on Dec. 13th and 14th, is the most intense meteor shower of the year. It lasts for days, is rich in fireballs, and can be seen from almost any point on Earth. It's also NASA astronomer Bill Cooke's favorite meteor shower—but not for any of the reasons listed above.
"The Geminids are my favorite," he explains, "because they defy explanation."...(more)...

Meteor News...Best Meteor Shower of 2010 Arrives Starting Dec. 13...

Slower-moving Geminids won't require binoculars or a telescope to see... 

What should be the best meteor shower of 2010 will occur beginning on the evening of Monday, Dec. 13.

Like most meteor showers, the Geminids will be at their best after midnight (early on the morning of Dec. 14), when the Earth is heading...(more)...

"Mystery" Fireball Over Atlanta GA ?...Is No Mystery !

I'll preface this story with a few facts relevant to this "sighting". 1...The sun is nearly at it's lowest point in the sky for the season. 2...This "event" occured close to sunset in Atlanta. 3...toward the end of the video, available by going to http://www.ajc.com/video?bcpid=97471435001&bclid=1717763711&bctid=700744798001 another aircraft can be seen entering the frame from right to left looking very much like the object in question. So...without delay and considering all the above factors, ELPALLSKY can say, without a doubt, this is a man-made aircraft. Please note the "firey" appearance and slow movement in the video and use it for future reference. Full story available at http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/mystery-object-streaks-across-768562.html

Large Oklahoma Meteor?...Just hours after Large Colorado Bolide Of 12/03/10.....

Reports are coming in to ELPALLSKY about another large, bright meteor...this time over Oklahoma and just 4 1/2 hours after another large and bright fireball wowed Colorado residents. The OK event was visible in AR and KS as well. Reports are as follows...

Dec 5 2010, 8:57 AM sandra2646 Reports: I saw a green light falling vertically around 11pm in Edmond, Oklahoma as I was driving home. I thought it was part of a flare or firework it was bright and it faded before it hit the ground. It definitely looked like it was in our atmosphere. My husband also saw the same light.

Mtn. View, Arkansas 11:00 p.m CST 3DEC2010

Guest305 (guest): I live near Mtn. View, Arkansas late last night about 11:00 p.m. I was loading wood in furnace and looked in the western sky and saw a huge green fireball it fell down till it dissapered behind tree line it was by far the biggest shooting star i've ever seen.

Seminole, Oklahoma - green glow falling from sky Dec. 3, 2010.

Lyndon Davis E-mails: A friend and I were sitting on the porch of a hunting cabin, far away from any light sources.  I saw a very large greenish fireball fall sometime around 11:00pm (10:47pm if I recall correctly).  I was in Southeastern Kansas  (approximately 15 miles east of Coffeyville, KS) and the object was to the south, falling in a straight vertical line to the ground.  We did not hear any noise, but it was bright enough to cast shadows for approximately 3 seconds and cause my friend (who was looking in the opposite direction) to turn around and look due to the intensity of the light.

It had an appearance somewhat like a flare.  I did not see any trail or debris coming from it.  It was, by far, the largest thing I have ever seen fall from the sky.

Kaysi E-mails: My name is Kavysania Kinslow I am in Oklahoma City, OK. I witnessed this same thing last night at about 11:00 from across the street from the State Capitol Building, in Oklahoma City. Do you have any idea what this may have been. Would please keep me informed. Thank you for your post and time.

Kaysi

Meteor News...Large Bright Colorado Bolide Meteor

Guest490 (guest): On Friday Dec. 3rd, 2010 at about 6:30 pm I was driving just east of Denver International Airport. I thought I was witnessing a plane crashing at first, but there was no hint of red or orange color, it was bright white with a long tail and lasted for several seconds. It seemed to be close to the ground north and east of Barr Lake .

Simona in Colorado Springs E-mails:  Just a quick note as I saw this incredible meteor on Friday night (12/3) & the website I had told about it still hasn't posted the event.  It was approx. 6:30 pm local time, I was driving north on the eastern side of Colorado Springs & saw it in the eastern sky, extremely low.  I would have sworn it landed only 10 miles to the east of me.  It was the most amazing one I've ever seen just b/c it was so incredibly low & close.   What is even odder to me is that about 6-9 months ago I saw another incredible meteor, when I was driving & was at the exact same location as this one (Approx. Powers Blvd x Dublin), what are the odds of seeing a meteor entering the atmosphere a few months apart when you are driving (& the driver) both times at almost the exact same location.  The other meteor however was in the northwest sky & was much higher.   Appeared to be landing over the Air Force Academy.
regards,
Simona

Saturday, December 4, 2010 6:06:00 PM MST Anonymous posted...
I was driving east on Table Mesa Blvd in Boulder, CO on 12/3/10 at 6:30 PM and saw this large green meteor to the north of me, coming out of the east. It was truly the most incredible falling star I've ever seen. As the others posted, it was in view for several seconds. I even had a chance to tell my husband "check it out" and he saw the tail end. 

Jeanne Judge E-mails: Last night at @ 6:30 p.m. I saw a striking and large ball of green light in the sky, Northeast in the sky from Golden, CO.  It was much larger and greener than any shooting star that I have seen in the past.  At first I thought that it was a fireball from an airplane it was that striking.  It fell to the North/North/West very quickly and dissipted while it was still well above the earth.

Guest206 (guest) Reports: Saw a very large green ball of light in the sky north east of Golden, CO @ 6:30 on December 3, 2010. At first I thought it was a fireball from an exploded plane it was that large- but it was green in color, moved very quickly, and dissipated quickly. It was quite beautiful and stunning. It fell to the NNW in the sky (still significanyly east of Golden and, it appeared, Denver)

Mitriza (guest) Reports: So glad we weren't the only ones to see it! We were driving north from Colorado Springs at about 6:30 pm on 12/3/2010 and saw a blue-green light to the NE falling quickly. It faded for a half second and then came right back. We were waiting for a boom or fireball but nothing happened. Very curious. Never seen anything like that before.
Stillwater, OK at 23:00 central time 3DEC2010

ELPALLSKY Guest185 Reports: Saw a green light falling from the sky from Stillwater OK at 11PM central time 12/3/10. I was driving east and saw it slightly to the south.

reported on http://www.elpasoallsky.blogspot.com/

Other reports are coming in now from Colorado, Kansas and Texas about this event. If you observed this event, please e-mail me at wxtx01@gmail.com with time, date, location and a brief description including brightness, direction of travel, color, duration and whether there was any fragmentation or sounds such as sonic booms within 2 minutes of the event. Thanks !

Other Reports (posted on Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News)...
Westminster, Colorado ~18:29 3DEC2010
justme (guest) wrote: I saw the same as mentioned by Buck Lynn earlier tonight and finally took the time out (to try and find out what I saw). I am in Westminster and I gasped and it looked so large I tried to make my husband look at what I half thought was a plane crashing. lol
This was also out of the north... and it was after dinner but I do not know the time,but it was very bright and huge, white in color. I forgot to make a wish, after I mentioned it and talked with my husband about what he missed looking at he told me to make a wish...hey if I get a million dollars we will celebrate (but it must have been about 2 or 3 minutes after it vanished from the sky).

Denver, Colorado ~18:29 MST 3DEC2010
Buck Lynn wrote: "My name is Buck Lynn, in Denver, Colorado. I was just looking for info on what I saw tonight, it was at 18:28pm MST in the North sky slightly east. Biggest entry I have ever seen. I'd love to know if this was unusual? it was SO big I immediately texted a friend of mine after the sighting, that msg was sent at 18:29 MST so the event occured within the last minute or so.  I`m an hour and a half north of Monument CO,though and the body was way north of me.I was in prime vewing position.  That scared me I actually braced for impact. I`ve seen lots of falling stars"this was way different and much bigger. "

North East of Monument Colorado  TIME? 3DEC2010

Guest359 (guest):Just saw what appeared to be a meteorite North East of Monument Colorado...Big,Bright, Blue...fell through the clouds and lit them up...Way cool...what was it???

 North of Austin, Texas  11:20 P.M. 2DEC2010
Guest583 (guest): I live just North of Austin, Texas & was outside having a smoke, around 11:20 P.M. last night, December 2nd, wen I saw that largest meteor(?) of my life.This was no faint shooting star. This was a brilliant, white-white/blue, object that left a substantial trail & looked to be "shedding" material in its wake. It was truly amazing, a sight I will never forget. Anyone else hear anything about this one?  Oh, & it was in the West,Southwest sky,moving from South to North, possibly away from me but I have no way of knowing for sure from where I sat. If anyone has any additional information on this observation,or any questions,please contact me. Thanks much, Rob (contact info on file)

Tucson Bright Bolide...New Images From Tucson !

Carl Hergenrother, Astronomer and moderator of The Transient Sky blogsite has graciously afforded elp these images of the Tucson bolide of 11/28/10. Hergenrother is a Tucson resident, operating an allsky camera there. Hergenrother reports...

Two interesting meteor events happened this past week. First a brilliant fireball was seen over southern AZ on the night of Nov 28/29 at ~11:53 pm. The fireball was picked up by my all-sky cam and was even seen as far south as Hermosillo were Salvador Aguirre’s camera picked it up. I’ll have more on this event later, for now follow the latest on James Gamble’s excellent El Paso AllSky blog...(more)... 

GIF Movie and Composite Image Courtesy Carl Hergenrother

Tucson Bolide Update...ELP Captures 11/28/10 Tucson Fireball

ELP Allsky Reports: After a thorough search of archived imagery, I'm happy to report that the El Paso Station/Sandia Allsky Camera did capture the Tucson AZ bolide which blazed across SE Arizona skies at 23:52:15 MST 11/28/10 (06:52:15 UTC 11/29/10). In the full composite w/compass, the meteor appears at roughly 255 degrees and flashes at roughly 259 degrees. This event is of particular interest to me as I was in Tucson at the time and witnessed it firsthand. I now estimate the magnitude of the meteor during flight at -13 with a terminal burst magnitude of possibly as high as -14. Again, I heard no sonics, i.e. electrophonics nor sonic booms. Below are composite flight images and a movie of the event as seen from the El Paso Allsky Camera. I'm hoping for additional images and videos from allsky cameras in Tucson shortly and will update this blog as/if they become available. SE Arizona residents who saw this meteor event are encouraged to email me at wxtx01@gmail.com and file a report with the AMS at http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/report.html

Geminids Meteor Shower: 'Up All Night' With NASA!

NASA Press Release...
The 2010 Geminid meteor shower promises to be lively, with realistic
viewing rates of 50-80 meteors per hour and potential peaks reaching 120  meteors per ...(more)...
Also visit NASA's new meteor detection weblog "FIREBALLS" at http://fireballs.ndc.nasa.gov/ and click on live view to see the latest image from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville Alabama Facility.

Meteor Research News...New Mexico State University to become hub for allsky camera detections...

Overview

What are we building? Cameras: Uplooking wide-field, video Network: Volunteer nodes (100+?) in continental US Server: Central server at NMSU to correlate and catalog events (meteor and manmade) Goal: Investigate, improve, and expand a ground-based all-sky camera network necessary for (more)...

OFF TOPIC...Total Lunar Eclipse Dec. 21, 2010...

From Carl Hergenrother (The Transient Sky)...
The big event this month is a Total Lunar Eclipse on the night of Dec 20/21. The Moon will be located nearly overhead during the peak of the eclipse for North American observers.
The start of the umbral eclipse (when the darkest part of Earth’s shadow covers the Moon) will occur at 6:32 UT (1:32 EST / 12:32 CST / 11:32 MST / 10:32 PST) with mid-eclipse at 8:16 UT (3:16 EST / 2:16 CST / 1:16 MST / 12:16 PST)

UPDATE...Bright Tucson Bolide of 11/28/10 Captured By Camera In Mexico !

Dr. Salvador Aguirre of the Hermosillo, Mexico Sandia Allsky Camera Station has provided ELP another new image of the 11/28/10 Tucson AZ event. The bolide is seen just left of top center, and displays the bright terminal flash. Hermosillo is roughly 218 miles (352 km) due south of Tucson.

*Again...event time is corrected to 23:52 MST (06:52 UTC)*

UPDATE!... New Image Of 11/28/10 Fireball Event Over Tucson AZ

Carl Hergenrother (The Transient Sky), professional astronomer at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and PlanetaryLab in Tucson AZ has provided ELP this still image of a brilliant fireball which occured just east of Tucson on 11/28/10. Time of this event has been corrected to 23:52 MST (06:52 UTC). The image was captured by an allsky camera located at the MMT Observatory near Tucson.

Image Credit MMTO...click on image for enlargement

Meteor News...Brighter than Moon...Meteor Lights Up East Tucson AZ

EPALLSKYCAM Reports...
At 11:32 p.m. MST on Nov.28th, a very bright short duration meteor was observed traveling NE to S-SW just East of Tucson Arizona. The event lasted for 2-3 seconds during which it burned with a magnitude slightly brighter than the full moon. A terminal burst with a magnitude substantially brighter a full moon was observed. The event occured at an elevation of 40 to 50 degrees. No sonics, i.e. electrophonics or sonic booms were heard. If you Saw this event, please comment below and submit a report to The AMS at http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/report.html This event is a good candidate for a late Leonid Meteor.

Meteor News...Another Florida Fireball

A Visitor To El Paso Allsky Camera Reports:
 I was searching to see if anyone else saw what I saw early this morning.A fireball light up the sky on Saturday, November,27th, 2010 @ 2:10am. I just happened to look up and caught something streaking across the sky. It had a long trail mostly orange(ish) and what looked like sparks and peices of fire. An object lead the way which looked twice the size of the trail in circumfrance and was very bright maybe orange/white/blueish.The thing is, it's movement was parallel to the horizon (left to right) and did not appear to be moving much faster than a plane would be. The trail was pretty long and there was a very bright flash of blue/white then it was gone. It looked exactly like a plane exploding. It appeared to be out over the gulf of Mexico. From my location (Parrish, FL.United States; south of Tampa) it was at 215 degrees S.W. with an elevation of approximately 40 degrees. I have NEVER seen anything like it in 36 years and I watch the night sky

Latest Meteor News...Saint Cloud Florida Fireball 11/25/10

A Visitor To El Paso Allsky Camera Reports:
At approx 5:30 pm on 11/25/10 I seen a ball of fire that appeared to be falling out of the sky. I was in Saint Cloud, FL.

Meteor News...Washington Fireball

A Visitor To El Paso Allsky Camera Reports:

I saw what looked like a fireball falling from the sky near walla walla, washington today between 6:45 and 7:00 am this morning any idea as to what it could of been.

**UPDATE*...Leonid Meteor Results From The El Paso Allsky Camera..

Not too bad through the peak. The composite image below shows Leonid meteors of magnitude -3 or brighter recorded during the period 11/13/10 through 11/24/10 by the El Paso Allsky Camera and WSentinel program (software/hardware provided by Sandia National Laboratories). Keep in mind that MOST of the VISIBLE Leonids were dimmer than -3 magnitude, so the image below only shows a small sampling of the overall count. I'll continue to monitor for additional events through Nov 28th (shower end) and will post updated images as needed.

Image Updated 11/24/10 at 12:10 MST (19:10 UTC)

***METEOR ACTIVITY UPDATE***

From SPACEWEATHER.COM...The annual Leonid meteor shower is peaking today, Nov. 17th-18th, as Earth passes through a thicket of debris from Comet Tempel-Tuttle. So far the shower has been a modest one, with fewer than ~25 meteors per hour according to international counts. The reason: Earth is missing the densest swarms of comet dust. Nevertheless, some bright Leonids have been seen, and even more have been heard. Tune into Spaceweather Radio for live Leonid echoes. More updates to follow.

THE LEONID METEOR SHOWER PEAKS TONIGHT ! Tips for Skywatching

This is the week that the famous Leonid meteor shower will be reaching its peak, and the best viewing of these ultra-swift "shooting stars" should come...(more)...

West Texas/New Mexico Meteor News...Latest Bright El Paso Tx Meteor

The El Paso Tx allsky camera recorded this long duration event on our northern horizon at 02:01:33 UTC...19:01:33 MST on Nov. 16. Stations to my north have been alerted and may provide imagery from northern NM shortly...updates to follow...

UPDATES:

11:01 p.m. MST 11/16/10 Cerrillos, New Mexico arrived from google.com on "elp" by searching for falling star over new mexico november 16.

*REQUEST FOR REPORTS*

If you saw this event, PLEASE post the approx. time, the date, your location and a brief description ov this event including direction of travel in the chat box located in the upper left of my site page. If you know of any TV reports or have video/pic, please e-mail to wxtx01@gmail.com
Composite image and a short movie from the El Paso Allsky Camera below.
Thank You!

 

 

(c) 2010,2011 Thomas Ashcraft

Enhanced Serbian Fireball Image Reveals Possible Fragments

This contrast enhanced image of the recent Serbia/Macedonia bolide shows what appear to be fragments rather than camera lens artifacts trailing behind the parent body at terminal burst. Future higher resolution images/videos may reveal more.

Latest El Paso Meteor...Early Leonid 11/15/10 02:18:40 UTC

Meteor News...California Fireball NOV13, 2010 9pm CST

If you witnessed a bright meteor or fireball in California on Nov 13th, 2010, please e-mail me at wxtx01@gmail.com.com or go to my chat blog in the upper left of my site and click "guest". Date, time, direction of travel, your location etc. is important. Also, any local TV reports and/or videos or pics are important so please forward to me. Thank you!  Reports follow:

On Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 10:30 PM, Anonymous Reports:
November 13th my husband and I were traveling West at
9pm on Fitzgerald coming up to Santa Teresa in Gilroy/
Morgan Hill when a Very Bright Fireball circled with
blue & green passed in front of us seeming to go into
the Santa Cruz Mountains. Traveled very fast.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Meteor News...California Fireball NOV13, 2010 9pm ...
 My Husband and I were on I80 West in Sacramento and saw the meteor around 9:00pm on 11/13/2010. It was huge..blue/green fireball with orange tail...seemed to go out for a second before lighting up again...it was amazing!
Sacramento,ca

Ryan Fares Reports...On November 13, 2010 Between 8:30 and 9:30pm 
I was standing at the west oakland bart station, facing the western sky.
As I watched the moon, I witnessed an amazing blue light streak downward across the sky.
It came from the left of the moon and moved slightly to a diagonal right towards the moon.
It was only visible for 10-30 seconds.
It had a V like vector and trailed yellow sparks.  At first i was astonished, then breifly considered that it could have been a fire work. 

To: wxtx01@gmail.com

Date: Sun, Nov 14, 2010 at 6:07 PM

Subject: Large mass Falling from sky on 11/13/10

hello. my name is ashley johnson from Lompoc, CA. I'm responding from the web site about the Large green mass falling from the sky on the night of November 13, 2010 about 9:00 P.M. A group of 5 friends and myself included were standing outside of our porch and witnessed the bright green mass falling at about a 60 degree angle from South East to North west.

Nov 14 2010, 10:50 PM

Guest938 (guest): At around 9pm on Nov 13th, I saw from my house in watsonville ca a really bright meteor/ fire ball. it had a brilliant trail of orange sparks behind it kind of like fireworks but not really. I was pretty amazing.

Nov 14 2010, 9:45 PM

Guest714 (guest): I was driving on the 118 freeway near Simi Valley CA around 9pm on November 13th 2010. I saw a large green falling (star/meteor?) It was beautiful but a little scary. There was no trail really. It fell quickly.

Nov 14 2010, 9:06 PM

Guest638 (guest): My daughter and I saw a fireball, while driving west on hwy 50. It was falling South-West @ around 9:05 to 9:15 on 11-13-10 in Shingle Springs,Ca

Nov 14 2010, 6:13 PM

Guest349 (guest): Guest349 (guest): a group of 5 friends and myself in Lompoc, CA witnessed this large green mass falling from the sky North west direction on 11/13/10 around 9 PM. There's no way this Large bright green object was a star

Fireball - 11/13/2010 approx 9:00PM
I saw a large fireball or falling star when driving into the parking lot of Starlite Ballroom (Gold’s gym in the same parking lot) in Mountain View. Don’t seem to find any other information about that…it was much bigger then any meteors or falling stars I have ever witnessed.
Regards,
Kristen

Nov 14 2010, 12:57 PM
Guest985 (guest): Saw a large green meteor falling to the west of Willow Glen area of San Jose, Ca. Sometime about 9PM, Nov. 13, 2010.
 

Nov 14 2010, 12:35 PM

Guest947 (guest): 11-13-2010,9 PM local time, large bright green meteor, descending at a 60 degree angle, in sky south west of Citrus Heights, CA

Nov 14 2010, 12:21 PM

Guest978 (guest): Big green meteor san jose CA 11-13-2010 9:00-9:45m western skyline 
I saw a very bright large fireball around 9pm Sat night to the north of Malibu. I was standing by the beach on Westward Road outside the Sunset Restaurant looking up the coast when it fell from the sky.
ML 

[12:38:54 AM] Oakland, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for large shooting star seen nov 13 about 9 pm.

San Jose, California arrived from google.com on "ELP Allsky Camera" by searching for UFO East San Jose.
 

 [12:03:40 AM] Cupertino, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for california shooting green meteor western sky.
15:04:47 -- 58 minutes ago. 
     
Oakland, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: NASA Scientist Begins Search for Meteorite Fall in California 8MAY09" by searching for meteor falling in oakland, ca.

San Jose, California searched for "california 11/13/2010 fireball in sky"


San Rafael, California arrived looking for "meteor streaks "November 11, 2010" fireball."

San Clemente, California searched with " falling object from sky 11-13-2010. " 

San Leandro, California arrived from google.com on "ELP Allsky Camera" by searching for nasa falling star norhtern america 11/13/2010.

Major Bolide over Serbia/Macedonia Produces Seismic Event !!

Videos/Photos & Information are needed on the direction of travel, start and end point of observation, observers location and elevation above horizon for the start and end point. Email: drtanuki@gmail.com

This major event occured at roughly 19:30 CET and was witnessed by many. The National TV Station reports that a magnitude 1.4 earthquake in Leskovac correlates with this event. This event may have produced meteorites.
 
To follow this major event or to leave a report of what you saw/heard, go to http://lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com/
Readers if you have information VIDEOS VERY IMPORTANT!!!! about this event please email drtanuki@gmail.com .... Thank you. Tokyo

Update...Louisiana/ Mississippi Fireball Reports...

I was in Slidell Louisiana facing West. It looked like it was going straight down.  I’m not really sure of the direction it was in…I saw the fire ball burn white blue and a little red . It looked like a large meteor zipping out of the sky. Quite large when compared to a regular “shooting” star.
Carol Helbling

Guest359 (guest): Very bright like the moon but moving almost straight down.Blue and white for a few seconds. I was close to New Orleans.
Guest402 (guest): three witnessed the same thing at around the same time over central alabama. credible witnesses (attorneys) two trails, one reddish glowing, another more transluscent blue and faint. very distinctive, the trail/tail was visible for 15-30 minutes (seconds?) until disappeared over horizon.

Tamara Knowles Alexander City, Alabama said...

myself, husband all saw a similar thing, was more red-colored in main tail, but had thinner, bluer, more transparent tail.  was on phone with a friend, who stepped outside and confimed that he saw the same thing.  it lasted 15-30 minutes (seconds?) as it moved, and was moving in a westerly/northwesterly direction.