Major Meteor Fireball Widely Seen over Eastern US 08DEC2011

 METEOR FIREBALL  

10:31 P.M. CST-11:31 P.M. EST 08DEC2011

Captured by a Sandia Sentinel Fireball Camera-Lake Station, IN

From ELPALLSKY: 09DEC2011...
Although at a distance on the horizon from the camera, Sandia Sentinel Fireball Camera Operator Steve Witt posts this capture of the widely seen Eastern US fireball which occured at 04:31 UTC (10:31 pm CST-11:31 pm EST) on Dec 8, 2011. Eyewitness reports to ELPALLSKY follow Steve's video below. Thank you Steve, for your diligence!

Email From:

Michelle K.-Montello, WI:
I saw the same thing...it was a bright green ball with a green tail. I was traveling southeast in montello Wisconsin and the light traveled from left to right.

Anonymous Reporter:
A bright green burning meteor seen all over southern Illinois. Tons of people seen it falling in a bright green light then it exploded.

Jason B.-Chicago, IL:
around midnight 08dec11 over Chicago in southern sky a bright white fireball like a low plane came almost straight down from east to west lasting several seconds and breaking into 3 large white chunks with tails.

Pete & Ann O.-De Plaines, IL:
Great website!  My name is Pete and I was comming home from Wisconsin on 12-08-2011.  I was traveling Southbound on I-294 when around 8PM, I caught glimpse of a huge fireball!  I was on the Des Plaines, Illinois area of tollway when at the Eastern part of the sky, there was a bluish-green fireball that had a long tail that seemed to be breaking up.  It was traveling about -20* from horizontal and was twice as bright as Jupiter!!  I thought for sure I would see this on the news via landing in someone's backyard!

   

Minnesota Meteor Fireball 08DEC2011

Email From:
Brett B.-St. Peter, MN-6:25 P.M. CST:
Greenish white fireball (like a large shooting star) traveled north to south across the horizon.  It lasted several seconds.

Possible North Texas Daylight Meteor Fireball 07DEC2011

Email From:

Kristy J.-Richardson, TX-11:50 A.M. CST:
Driving south on Waterford and  Synergy Park Blvd. area of Richardson, TX, I spotted a meteor streaking through the sky. It was headed just to the southeast. Then it broke into two parts with one seeming to drop straight down, while the other continued until out of sight. The meteors had short white tails, fanned out at the end. The streak was much like a jet airplane leaves, only much shorter and slightly fanned out at the end of the tail.  Did anyone else see this?  Thanks Kristy! So this event occured in broad daylight? Great catch!

READERS...If you witnessed this apparent daylight fireball over N Texas, Please submit your sighting descriptions to wxtx01@gmail.com for confirmation. THANK YOU!

Kansas Meteor Fireball 06DEC2011

Email From:
Mark R.-Pittsburg, KS
Bright fireball, which appeared to have struck the ground in SEK or SW Mo, spotted @23:47 cst through southeast window looking east southeast from 604 west Jefferson, Pittsburg KS.  Trajectory seemed nearly vertical. Experience was brief but vivid.  Thank you Mark! READERS...If you saw this fireball please share your details at wxtx01@gmail.com

Iowa Meteor Fireball 07DEC2011

From The DUSK OBSERVATORY And Tim Cline: 07DEC2011-02:04:03 UTC (8:04:03 P.M. CST)-Southeast of DeMoins, IA

Jim,I caught this sweet fireball last night....
Here is pic and video if you want to post it....
Thanks....
Thanks Tim...Great Catch!

image above and movie below courtesy and (c) 2011-Tim Cline-Dusk Observatory

READERS...If you saw this fireball event, please share what you saw with us...wxtx01@gmail.com Thanks all!

Ontario Canada Meteor Fireball 04DEC2011

From The ELPALLSKY Chatbox:

Dec 5 2011, 11:42 AM Guest186 (guest):

Name is Sam, I was travelling northbound on HWY 527 North 8 miles North of city of Thunder Bay, Ontario..i noticed a streaking bluish/greenish fireball lasting 1 or 2 seconds travelling East or Northeast & disappeared in the tree-line..the time was 6:19pm EST on Dec. 4th, 2011..

California Meteor Fireball 06DEC2011

Email From

Matthew A.-December 6, 2011 - Santa Clara, California approx.. 8:30/8:45pm PST 
Side Note...SJ Sharks had just lost the 2nd period
Orange/White fireball moving east to west, crossed almost directly overhead,
perhaps 1 degree further north.  Covered visible arc distance in about 4
seconds.
Long tail, orange in color, fairly low in the sky. Lots of air traffic at
the time as well.
My GPS coords are 37.35501 - 121.98667, 56ft altitude.  No large buildings

or other obstructions, single story homes for a few square miles.   

Thanks for the heads up Matthew! 

Anyone have any other submissions for this event?...wxtx01@gmail.com

Ontario Canada Meteor Fireball 06DEC2011

Email From:

Patrick-Sudbury Ontario, Canada-5:45 P.M. EST:
Witnessed a large fireball that was heading due north by Sudbury, Ontario.  Appeared as though it had broken up into 2 or 3 pieces burning blue/green.  This meteor would have landed north west of Sudbury.  I’m wondering if anyone else had seen this event?  Thank you Patrick! OTHERS see this event? Email wxtx01@gmail.com with your details. Thanks!

UPDATE!!!.....4TH Meteor Fireball Reported From North Carolina In 24 HRS 03DEC2011...Also Seen In Virginia, Tennessee

Email From:
Parks A.-Charlotte, NC:
Tonight in the southern horizon south of my location in Charlotte, NC about 630 or so. Fragmenting as it fell. Lasted about three seconds from my viewpoint.  Blueish green in color. An aquaintance in Winston Salem also spotted it also so I'm not sure how far south from Charlotte it was in reality. Heading from west to east.  Thank You Parks!!

UPDATE !!!!!! This event captured by NASA All Sky Fireball Camera
6:46 P.M. EST 03DEC2011

image above and video below courtesy NASA and Tellus Science Museum-Cartersville, GA

ADDITIONAL REPORTS

Jason W.

Saw the same thing as everyone else about the same time.   We were between Aurora and New Bern NC.

Patricia R.

Heading up Highway 86North, just crossed into Caswell County (NC) saw a very bright blue meteor.

Ramsey J.-Knoxville, TN

While driving southwards I saw a huge fireball fall from about 40 degrees above the horizon almost directly south (slightest towards the east) towards the horizon. It made it to about 10 degrees above the horizon before it blinked out. I live in the city and it was a little hazy last night, but it was hard to miss, so must have been a bright one! It was a sea green color.

Michele B.

I came across your sight trying to research what I may have seen last night. I tried to sign up so I could post, but wasn't able to do that. Approximately 7 p.m. EST in Frankfort, Kentucky on Saturday December 3, 2011, I was walking my dog and saw what looked like a small bright white burning particle falling down vertically (very much at an angle) from apprx. east to west. This was about 1/4 a mile from I-64. Where I live has no street lights and this was right across the street in a field. It appeared to burn out before it hit the ground. This is fascinating - any idea what it was that I saw?

Stanley G.
Atlanta,I85 northbound about 6:45 pm. My first  thought was an airliner was falling out of the sky, but it was way too fast. Very bright  with a comet like tail, lasting a few seconds before flaming out. Seen lots of sho oting stars in my 72 years, never anything this bright or large. Expected to here on news about space debris of some sort. NOTA!

Carolyn J.-Ft. Blackmore, VA-~7:00 P.M. EST Saw a huge green fireball falling very quickly in the eastern sky, probably lasted about 3 seconds before it went out of sight over the mountains.  Very impressive! Brenda-Panther Stadium-Charlotte, NC: Hi.  Friend and I both saw fireball while standing outside Panther Stadium Saturday evening a little before 7pm.  It was quite large and orange, not a typical shooting star.  Quite exciting! Andy & Laurel B.-Dacula, GA-6:45 P.M. EST: Driving on Hamilton Mill Road and saw it trailing downward in the southern sky... Very bright and moving very fast... Left like a dotted illuminated line in the sky toward the end of it... Lasted for at least 3 seconds... I haven't seen anything that bright in the sky since the soviet missile back in the late 80's... But this was moving much faster than that. Samantha C.-Del Rio, TN: We saw a very bright sparkly orange light appearing to be larger than a normal shooting star Dec 3, 2011 at around 6:40 pm. We were driving on Old 15th Road, Del Rio TN. We were heading east. It appeared to be headed in an easterly direction. This light was bigger then anything I have ever seen. It was sparkly in nature, and did not have any trailing light than I am used to seeing. It looked like a mixture of orange and white sparkles. And it was so fast it only stayed in our view for less then a second. But so big it was very hard to miss. Pamela M.-Irmo, SC: Hi: My children age 11  and 14, where the very luck viewers of the meteroite that was seen by others in the SC, NC, VR, TN area!  I believe we may have been the closest viewers as my kids remarked that this meterorite was shockingly large!  It frieghtened them!  I'd like to ask you about sites or further information on estimating distance when viewing a meterorite falling! Here's a description for posting on your site! According to Amelia who is 14 and witnessed this amazing site with 11 year old brother John. On December 3, 2011 about 6:40 PM, Amelia and John had just exited the front door of our home to go to a neighbors house.  I have carefully determined they were facing south-south west, looking up into the sky, a very large fire ball traveling north-west to south-east became visible. The fire ball appeared enormous to them and was a large glowing white ball ringed in red fire.  The ball was followed by a large long thick bright tail, that gradiated from red to orange and then yellow towards the end of the tail.  It entered their vision on a diagonal in relation to them (over the shoulder feeling) traveling sort of paralell to the horizon as they viewed it.  Using the horizon as a parallel (arm stretched straight forward fingers pointing straight and over head being 90 degrees, the meteor was at 50 degrees in the sky.  The meteor appeared large in size seeming slightly smaller than the moon would appear if that low in the sky on nights when it is full (though the moon was not full that night).  The tail was unusually thick and extremely and surprisingly long, being about 20 times longer than the meteor. The meteor traveled a short distance and stalled in forward momentum as a result of breaking into two fiery pieces and the tail dissipated.  Then it broke into two more pieces and fizzled and disappeared. From The ELPALLSKY Chatbox: Dec 3 2011, 6:37 PM Zebrology (guest): I'm in Concord, NC and I saw a huge ball in the sky with fire tracking behind it. It was only in the sky for a few seconds and it just disappeared. Dec 4 2011, 3:41 PM Guest99 (guest): Last night, Dec 3rd, at 6:40 pm, while traveling out of Salisbury, Nc headed towards Charlotte, South on I85, my Mom & I saw what looked like a large fireball falling from the sky. At first I was certain it was a plane crashing, it was very bright (white) with obvious flames streaming behind it, traveling too fast for any plane in retrospect. It was about a 5 second lapse before it started to break apart & at least one large portion fell off and disintegrated as it fell. My son was very frightened (he is 6  Dec 4 2011, 5:37 AM Dan Parker: witnessed a large green meteor/fireball on Dec 3rd 2011 in Greenville SC. It was traveling roughly east to west with a duration of 2-3 seconds. It broke into 2-3 large pieces. I have never seen such a large and beautiful meteor in my life! Between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm EST

Connecticut Meteor Fireball 03DEC2011

Email From:
Allie D.-Stratford, CT-6:00 P.M. EST
A very bright fireball low in the horizon while driving. Thanks Allie! A few more details please? Direction you were traveling, direction object traveled (right to left etc.) duration, color. Thanks!

Green Pennsylvania Meteor Fireball 03DEC2011

Email From:
Chelsea B.-Somerset, PA:
Saw a large green gaseous "fireball" falling low in the sky a little after 8 EST near Somerset, PA. I'm not very good with directions but I think it was "falling" northward.  Thanks Chelsea! If there are other witnesses to this event, we want to hear from you...send report to wxtx01@gmail.com THANKS!!

A Third North Carolina Meteor Fireball Within 24 Hrs. 03DEC2011

Email From:
Brian W.-Coleridge, NC:
Hi. I saw one at around 1am in Coleridge NC very bright and wide  trail seemed almost smokey and it flashed like it broke up or exploded part way appeared towards the west sky. I never seen one like it before so I searched online and seen the earlier reports of one and wanted to add this one. Thank you Brian...Others see this third event? email wxtx01@gmail.com w/ your report! Thanks.

Canada,Ohio Meteor Fireball 03DEC2011

From The ELPALLSKY Chatbox:

Dec 4 2011, 5:55 AM Guest171 (guest):

On Dec 3rd 2011 in Dover OH I saw a green meteor falling from east to west. The duration was around 3 sec. It had a long tail and was very vivid and beautiful. Jason Beachy

Dec 4 2011, 9:15 AM Guest701 (guest):

dont know what it was but it was over the middletown ohio area, it looked like three fireballs with a long trail of sparks that lasted a couple of minutes. at one point one would disappear and then reappear closer to the other two, never seen anything like it.

Dec 3 2011, 10:11 PM John Glanz:

Appox. 6:30pm to 7pm I didn't look at the clock, as we drove out in the darkend country due north we saw to the north north east a large fire ball which appeared to be heading North East, and we saw what looked like a flow of a trail (as if we were looking at the afterburners of a jet). We saw this in Ida Michigan, it seemed to be over Monroe, MI (but I'm certain it was likely way up over Canada. Has anyone else seen this this early evening? December 3, 2011 

Oregon Meteor Fireball 02DEC2011

Email From:

James B.-Canby,OR:
I saw a very large bright low streaming light pass across the sky about 5:15pm or so from Canby, Oregon 97013. It was headed Westward. Just looked to see if there was any news about it but hav'nt been able to find anything posted anywhere. Hmmm It was huge and bright. Any info for me?
Thanks  Thanks James! Are there other witnesses to this event??? Please email a description to wxtx01@gmail.com Thank you!

Unnamed Reporter-Willamette Valley, OR:
Saw what looked like fireball or comet or meteor going from south to northwest in twilight sky dec 2 in the central willamette valley oregon

Natasha O.-Eugene, OR:
Hello! So excited others saw this as well! I live in Eugene and saw the beautiful greentailed fireball heading west at about 5:15pm(?). Seemed so slow moving at the time...
My roomie also saw it as he was driving home.
At first I thought it was a misguided firework from the PAC 12 game at Autzen Stadium about 3 miles away - but I quickly realized it was different!
Cheers!

Dean-Hillsboro, OR:
I was in Hillsboro just off hwy 26 & Cornell road driving west, Dec. 2nd I saw a big neon green meteor like object falling slowly from space at an angle I was looking South and it was falling from East to West, falling slowly the ball of green light grew bigger as it came closer and I was wondering how close it really was, I figured it was probably falling somewhere within 50miles it was hard to tell distance because it was large yet came down and seemed pretty close, I'd guess perhaps McMinnville area as a rough estimate.  I've seen strange things in the sky before, and thought to google this to see if anyone else wrote about it... the thing is I'm reading all of these posts about green balls of light falling down and everyone seems to be describing seeing the same thing around the same area... this is strange to me because most of them are from September 2011, and this was December 2nd 2011... I'm noticing a pattern here and thinking it does not seem random like a falling meteor to me; I'm thinking this could be a landing area.  Since this does not seem to be random \ because of the strange color, and locations seem to be the same, I'm thinking this is not just some random rock falling from space, but on the contrary I have a feeling this is from some form of intelligence.  "I also pondered operation blue-beam" but really I have no idea what is going on at all.

Sasha D.-Mt. Shasta, CA:
Yes! I saw this too at the same Time. I saw it going north from Mt Shasta, ca driving on the I-5. It fell behind a small mountain called black butte. I pulled over to see if anything had caught on fire or if there was an eruption from when it hit the earth. It looked like a massive shooting star or like a fireball/small meteorite. My
Uncle who Lives in shasta also Saw the same thing. WEIRD!!!

Kym J.-N. Portland, OR :
I wasn't sure what it was @ first around 515pm 12/02/11. It was the size of a quarter if one held it up in front of themselves! Big, bright & white, moving fast at an angle towards earth moving sw to west then went behind my view/curtain as I was sitting on a friends couch happening to be gazing out the window @ that particular moment. So cool & perfect timing. Reminding me once again of how fragile life is.

Darla P.-West Linn, OR:
I was driving SW on I205 approximately 5:15pm by West Linn, OR and saw a very large, white object shooting through the sky in the direction of Canby, OR.  It was like a shooting star, only much larger and slower.  It just seemed to "burn out" after a bit.  It was quite striking, and after I arrived home I asked my husband if he had seen anything on the news about it.  He said that he hadn't.  Please keep us updated with info...I'd like to know what it was! Thanks ~Darla P.

Southern California Meteor Fireball 02DEC2011

Email From:
Deanne S.-Fountain Valley, CA:
At just-past-6 pm local (maybe 6:08), I was driving into my neighborhood (eastward) and saw a bright bluish-white trail begin on the sky from left to right (north to south).  It at first appeared to me to be the flame from the engine of a single-engine military fighter aircraft but then as it elongated, I realized it was something coming in to the earth's atmospheres.  It began to break apart, I assume, as I saw a few bits come away and quickly disintegrate.  Finally as it reached the right side of my windshield it fizzled out.  Very neat, I've never seen anything like it before.  Thanks for the heads up Deanne!! Others who saw this please email your description to wxtx01@gmail.com Thank You!

Ontario Canada, Michigan Meteor Fireball 02DEC2011

Email From:
Kelly M.-Northern MI:
I actually saw one around 9-10 pm in northern Michigan, it looked like one hit the ground but not sure I haven't heard any news?

Kathryn M.-London Ontario, Canada:
at about 9:15pm (estimate - I was driving) I saw what looked like a comet with a greenish hue flash through the sky to the North.
I can't find anything on line about it either.

Another North Carolina Meteor Fireball 02DEC2011

Email From:

Bruce H.-Bath, NC-~4:00pm EST:
Just saw something fall out of sky. I'm near Bath N.C. looking South. Long streak of light then fizzeled out above tree line  Thanks for the heads up Bruce...OTHERS SEE THIS EVENT? Email wxtx01@gmail.com with your reports. THANK YOU!

Diane H.-Darlington, SC:

I saw what my daughter & I think was a shooting star. Well something falling from the sky.

It was tonight 12/2/11 around 6-6:30pm here in Darlington, SC. Maybe East/South east. But it was bright as a white LED light with sparlles that fizzled out on the way out. It was almost horizontal but slightly going down. Way too high for fireworks & surely not a plane. I wonder what it was?

Stacey M.-Wake Forest, NC:

Hello! Got to your blog from Google after seeing a large fiery object moving quickly across the sky. It was exactly how I pictured Haley's comet back when I was a child. It had a long trail or tail.  I actually thought for a moment "this is the end," since I've never seen anything like it. It was a little after 6pm here in Wake Forest, NC; I had just finished a jog.

Ben H.-Raleigh, NC:
I saw your posting on a website and Im wondering if we saw the same thing. I was heading south into Raleigh about 6:00pm tonight when I saw a bright meteor go across the sky that seemed to travel from northeast to southwest. It obviously broke apart and disintegrated and you could see that happen really well from where I was sitting in my car.

Paula B.-Raleigh, NC:

I saw the same thing described by Ben H. in Raleigh. I am in Raleigh, was travelling south just after 6:00 when I saw the “fireball”. Any word on what it was?

 

Maari C.-Unknown Location:
I saw this too. Last night 12-2 around 6:15ish. It was a bright ball of light, like a close-up shooting star. I could see it breaking apart with little bits burning off the back as it fell. I thought for sure it would hit the ground. It seemed  so close. I kept waiting to hear it hit the ground somewhere. It seemed like the dogs in our neighborhood started barking around the same time. It was really cool. I've never seen something like that.

R. Peters-Greenwood, SC:
At just-past-6 pm local (maybe 6:08), I was driving into my neighborhood (eastward) and saw a bright bluish-white trail begin on the sky from left to right (north to south).  It at first appeared to me to be the flame from the engine of a single-engine military fighter aircraft but then as it elongated, I realized it was something coming in to the earth's atmospheres.  It began to break apart, I assume, as I saw a few bits come away and quickly disintegrate.  Finally as it reached the right side of my windshield it fizzled out.  Very neat, I've never seen anything like it before.

"Arizona Dewdrop"-Columbia, SC:
around 6pm last night I saw a bright white shooting star. Larger than any I've ever seen. It also had a tail that was thick and white, but not as bright as the star itself. It seemed to travel the. Entire length of the sky than fizzeled.  What was it? 

ATTENTION !! MARK From The BAY AREA...Recent Request To Upload Your Pictures Of A Meteor Fireball...

ATTENTION !!

Mark From The SF Bay Area. You recently posted a comment asking where you could upload a picture you obtained of a fireball in Northern California. PLEASE contact me at wxtx01@gmail.com ASAP. Thank you!!!

Possible BC Canada Meteor Fireball 02DEC2011

Email From:

Shea D.-Vancouver British Columbia, Canada:

Hi
Was sitting outside on my balcony last night which faces north, about 1:30am chatting on the phone with a friend and saw a large light move slowly across the sky eastwards. It was big and slow, I looked at the road and saw a street light and was describing to my friend that it was the colour of the street lamp (yellow-ish) and nearly the same size but moving quite slowly, I tried to go get my camera after realizing how slow it was moving but missed it, operator failure We get lots of sea planes, planes and helicopters in the sky but this was big and slow! Stranger yet, I continued talking and another light caught my eye, suddenly where I originally spotted it, same size and moving the same direction.
Wonder what it could've been?
Vancouver, BC

Latest Fireball Reports From The ELPALLSKY CHATBOX 02DEC2011

Dec 1 2011, 11:05 AM Guest383 (guest):  

Carly. Berkeley, CA (west). 8am. something large with a long smoke trail falling out of sky this morning around 8am? I wasn't alone when I saw it so I know I am not going crazy... It basically looked like a jet with a gorgeous smoke trail in the sunrise. My cousin and I were admiring the beauty and then stopped in the middle of the street when we realized, "Wait! That is going straight DOWN...Not straight ACROSS the sky!" We were in West Berkeley looking toward the south/south west.  Thank you Carly!

 

Dec 2 2011, 7:26 AM Angela Davis: 

Anyone in the STL (Saint Louis, MO) area see what I did last night??

It was orange and big and freaky, Horzontal orange flash of light with a big brighter flash above it, then went away slowly wow,, I know im not the only one!!

last night in ST louis about 11 pm  Thanks Angela! Now we wait for other witnesses to write in.

North Carolina Meteor Fireball 06:08 A.M. EST 02DEC2011

This Was A Widely Seen Event And We Need Additional Reports !!!

Please Email Your Reports To ELPALLSKY (click)

Email From:

Phil M.-Wilmington, NC-06:08 A.M. EST:
Large glowing fireball, aprox 2 seconds, moving from NE to SW across the sky. Yellow, white then green in color with increasing sparks near the end then disappearing with a slight flash. Witnessed with a friend after our early morning run. I have seen “shooting stars”, this was much larger and with intense color.Thanks,

Kerry B.-Clayton, NC-06:08 A.M. EST:
Approx ½ in in diameter. White fireball with red perimeter. Observed dropping from about 120 deg above horizon to 50 deg when lost in treeline. Moving on a S/SW direction viewed from 35.652703 -78.400872. Approx 2 second view. Strong long tail that immediately disappeared. Maintained diameter from where viewed consistent with rapid altitude drop vs shooting across (away) the sky. KB – Clayton NC

Christy H.-Shelby, NC:
My husband and coworkers also saw this on the way in to work (approx. 6:10 am./ Dec. 2.) They were traveling on hwy.74 in from Shelby, NC toward neighboring Kings Mountain, NC. They described it as bright with changing colors, green orange, and blue.  Duration was estimated 4-5 secs. and pretty awesome because so many saw it.  Said it looked as if it streaked and then descended quickly.

Gayle-Grandfather Mountain, NC:

I saw something fall out of the sky at approximately 6:10 this morning.  I live near Grandfather Mountain.  It was blue/green and as it disappeared, it has gold/yellow sparks trailing it.  Do you know what it was???? December 2^nd, 6:08am, Grandfather Mountain area.

Blue/green ball, I saw it for about 3-4 seconds, as it disappeared, it has gold/yellow sparks coming from the back end.

Thanks

Pablo R.-Lillington, NC:
I witnessed this sighting on my way to work while I was driving south on NC210 in Lillington NC at 06:08 AM. It appeared to be large in diameter (between baseball and basketball).  It was big with a large bright white with green  tail and lasted around 5 seconds.  I saw it out of my driver side window and it was parallel to the top of my car; seemed like if I was driving along side of it.  It startled me because it was so close, possibly landed in my area; it was huge.

Jan R.-Winston Salem, NC:
I also saw what I guess to be a fireball Dec. 2, 2011 around 6:15 in the a.m. It shot across highway 52 and over the treetops, still flaming - yellowy-green. My first close encounter! 

Tennessee Meteor Fireball 30nov2011

Email From:
Lannie R.-Morrison, TN-5:29 P.M. CST:
seen what looked like a bottle rocket shooting across the sky from south to north, at about 40 deg. above horizon,  looking east.  at  approx. 35.5739  -85.93 ,at 5:29 pm cat. there were 3 or 4 aircraft lights blinking in the same area of space. Just wondering what it was.  I see 1or 2 green fire balls in the same area every year but they usually go from north east to south west. Just saying :)
' Thanks

Washington DC Meteor Fireball 28nov2011

From WJLA-ABC Washington, D.C.

• Astronomy,
• D.C.-centric,
• Weather

Rainbow-colored, exploding meteor appears just south of D.C.

December 1, 2011 - 05:00 AM

Hordes of incandescent meteors have ripped across U.S. skies this past week. According to alert skywatchers, the nation's capital got in on the stellar action in a big way.
The delightful blog Lunar Meteorite Hunters carries two reports of a glowing nightly visitor that appeared between 40 and 60 miles south of D.C. on Monday, Nov. 28. The first account is from Patrick in Leonardtown, Md., who caught a bright object whizzing by overhead around 9:20 p.m. The flaming flier lasted about 2 seconds, cycling like an angry squid from red to blue to green. Says Patrick, with minor spelling/grammar errors fixed:
No discernible sound. Very bright, same as the moon. Not blinding, but quite noticeable. Not sure, [but it looked like it had] only one tail. I'm not sure if it was when it entered the atmosphere, but I saw almost an explosion or halo form around it about halfway through its travel before it disappeared.
A meteor that was hoisted with its own petard, you say? Go on!
The next account of Monday's space shenanigans comes from an unnamed observer in Stafford, Va., at approximately the same time of evening. This witness also says the object flamed out in a spectacular fashion:

Two seconds left to right. White, reddish. Brightest thing in the sky.... I thought it was a falling star but then it exploded with a bright flash of light. It look like it hit something and disintegrated. There was a big puff of what look like smoke.
The forums of the American Meteor Society bear no similar reports of a Monday-night fireball near D.C., but resident site expert Robert Lunsford notes a number of minor meteor showers that might account for the sparking skies. The Andromedid shower is still ongoing with "low, but detectable" and slow-moving meteors, and the November Orionids reached their anthill peak on Nov. 30. A dimmed, crescent moon is allowing amateur astronomers in the Northern Hemisphere to see as many as four shooting stars an hour, Lunsford says.
So keep your eyes open and you might just see one of these eerie travelers from the beyond. However, best know how to distinguish between a meteor and a helicopter, first.

Read More:Meteors Short URL: http://wj.la/thtlvj

Northern California Meteor Fireball 30NOV2011

From The ELPALLSKY Chatbox:

Dec 4 2011, 3:01 AM Guest486 (guest):

In the early evening of november 30th, I saw a long, white streak with blue tinges on the edges, about 1/4 of the sky long. The head looked like magnesium burning, blueish green light, as large as the moon in 1/2 wax. northern california near willow creek.

 

Bright Southern California Meteor Fireball 27nov2011

Email From:
Ruth-Long Beach, CA:
Hi! What I saw was an orange fireball that disappeared in seconds. This happened in Long Beach, CA around 1:05am.. Can someone explains this to me plz? Thanks, Ruth  Thank YOU Ruth! Your report is confirmed below

Mark M.-San Diego, CA:
A possible meteor event happened early this morning in San Diego at approximately 1:15am. While out on a walk the ground lit up extremely brilliant blue/white (lighting all up like a huge camera flash brighter than daylight) and when I quickly looked up I saw a wide smoke trail from east to west in the clear sky directly above just as the bright light faded. I have never experienced a non-lightning flash such as this before.  Thanks for the confirmation Mark!