Preliminary Ground Track Of 20MAY2011 Georgia Fireball Bolide Released By NASA...

From ELPALLSKY 22MAY2011:
Initial estimation of the ground track is based on preliminary data from two NASA all sky cameras located in Cartersville and Chickamauga Georgia.

NASA Meteoroid Environment Office Director Dr. Bill Cooke tells ELPALLSKY...
"First off, this thing hit the top of the atmosphere moving very fast at 38.6 km/s. Orbit is low inclination and nearly parabolic, which implies a cometary origin.


Important stuff:
Start point: Lon -83.480 +/- 0.0018, Lat 32.700 +/- 0.0018, height 106.7 +/- 0.3 km
End point: Lon -84.915 +/- 0.0017, Lat 33.725 +/- 0.0017, height 61.2 +/- 0.3 km

Speed 38.6 +/- 1.9 km/s

Radiant coordinates: RA 249.1 Dec -23.0, both with errors of about 1.0 degree. These coordinates are a close match to the antihelion radiant at ~252, -22."

image courtesy NASA MSFC MEO EV44-click image to enlarge

In the video below, frame speed has been reduced to 1/3 real-time to better show fragmentation of the bolide during it's illuminated flight. This video courtesy NASA MSFC MEO EV44

ELPALLSKY asked Dr. Bill Cooke (Dir. of MEO at Marshall Space Flight Center-Huntsville, AL) whether he believes any of the bolide might have made it to the ground...

"I doubt it - dirty ice doesn't like heat too much :P Plus the meteor was very fast, well above the 15 km/s threshold you usually see in meteorite droppers. However, I could be wrong - waiting on Peter Brown (UWO-Canada) and his team to take a look and give me their thoughts.  

BREAKING METEOR NEWS...UPDATE...EAS NEWS...UPDATE...NASA Releases Initial Imagery Of Widely Seen 20MAY2011 GA, AL Fireball Bolide

FROM ELPALLSKY...Thanks to all witnesses in AL, GA, FL, TN, and SC who emailed and left reports in the "chat window" !! about this significant event !!

NASA All Sky Cameras Capture Significant Alabama, Georgia Bolide Event Which Occured at 9:46pm CDT-10:46pm EDT 20MAY2011-(02:46:53 UTC 21MAY2011).

From ELPALLSKY 22MAY2011:

After scanning video cameras in Alabama and Georgia, NASA Meteoroid Environment Office Director Dr. Bill Cooke tells ELPALLSKY " this is by far the biggest and brightest event we have seen with our little network! You will note 3 distinct flares in the video, indicating 3 fragmentation events." Orbital data is being reduced and orbital, trajectory, and magnitude (visual brightness) solutions will be available soon. Bookmark this site and stay with ELPALLSKY for updates!

All Images Below Courtesy NASA-MSFC-MEO-EV44 Huntsville, AL
Videos Are Flipped Horizontally...In Videos Only, -North is down and East is left

image from Tellus Science Center-Cartersville, GA NASA All Sky Camera
click image to enlarge

image from Chickamauga, GA Nasa All Sky Camera
click image to enlarge

Southern California Fireball/Loud Booms 21MAY2011...

Internet Traffic Indicates Possible Meteor/Fireball Event Over SO CAL 21MAY2011

From The "Chat Window":



May 23 2011, 8:45 AM Guest465 (guest): Im in santa clara n i saw the light that i thought looked like a firework but it stayed in the sky n went downward n disappeared in thin air. This was at 1:02 am santa clara ca. I didnt hear anything but then wen I came home i looked up n saw the line across the sky

May 22 2011, 12:20 PM Neal (guest): Yesterday evening, just after sunset, about maybe 8:45 PM PST, I saw two bright flashes of blueish-greenish color, in rapid succession,to the south. It appeared to be behind Chino hills. I saw it from Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, between races. I am not sure what this was.

E-mails From:

Julie-Downey, CA:
Hi,I was out in the swimming pool at around 11:25pm on May 21 with my dogs staring at the sky in Downey, California when I saw about 9-10 lights traveling north bound.  They then split and my eyes could only follow the brightest one and then I could no longer see them or it. What where they?
Julie

Justin H.-San Jose, CA:
hello i found your site by searching google for meteor and using the tools to find latest posts. i went outside around 9:15-9:30pm to smoke a cigarette. i noticed what i thought was a satellite travelling across the sky, i watched it move from south to north, passing stars. it was just east of me, and as it passed one star that star began moving and following it.  i thought it was an optical illusion. i swear the second object was stationary until the satellite passed directly next to it. they had different trajectories, it was definitely not an illusion as i watched both objects travel across the sky until they both faded into the light pollution from the street lights. i've seen what i thought were satellites before, many times actually, but never two at once like that. i found it remarkable and turned my gaze back to the center of the sky when all of a sudden just south of me i saw what i thought was a meteorite falling straight down, it looked like a single firework falling to the ground, it had a red flame trailing around it, it seemed to burn out and dissapear before it hit the ground, i did not hear anything. it freaked me out, i've seen shooting stars before but they were always travelling across the sky, not straight down into the ground. i am located a few houses east of the intersection of curtner and lincoln ave in san jose california. i immediately posted about it on facebook but i dont think anybody believed me because of that whole rapture crap, so i did some googling (using the search tool - latest) and found these tweets about it. if you have any further questions, i would be glad to answer! i am definitely interested in figuring out what it was!
justin

From Internet Traffic Sources:

Los Angeles, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Loud Booms Heard In Southern California 17APR2011 Possible Fireball?" by searching for meteor mission viejo heard a loud sound boom may 21 2011.
23:55:51 -- 4 minutes ago

Woodland Hills, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Loud Booms Heard In Southern California 17APR2011 Possible Fireball?" by searching for loud blast in woodland hills.
23:35:34 -- 24 minutes ago

Fremont, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for what was the ball of fire in may 21 2011 sky.
23:11:39 -- 49 minutes ago

Weed, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for red orange glow in southern sky May 21, 2011 california.
22:52:02 -- 1 hour 8 mins ago

San Jose, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Meteor News...California Fireball NOV13, 2010 9pm CST" by searching for fireball san jose may 21.
22:51:01 -- 1 hour 10 mins ago

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

Possible WI, ON Canada Meteor Fireball 21MAY2011...

From Email:

Shannon B.-St Catharines Ontario Canada:
We were outside on Sunday May 22 around 9:30pm doing sparklers with my kids when my two year old daughter Kaitlyn said mommy plane. I looked up and I was like OMG honey is that airplane on fire! It was a perfect circle and my brother in law said no I think its a meteor so we yelled to all the kids and we watched in awe as it crossed the sky and slowly disappeared in the NORTH Sky. Never scene anything like it so close so clear it was awesome.
Shannon B

Jeff L.-St.Catharines Ontario Canada: 

Late last night around 10:30 pm we were all sitting on our porch and noticed a large ball of fire shooting across the sky. Heading in a northeast direction coming from the south west. There was no sound and we must have watched it for a good 5 minutes.It seem to dissappear in the sky in the distance. It was the strangest thing we had ever seen in the sky. It appeared to be a plane on fire but there was no noise. We are glad to know other people seen this as there was 5 of us outside.

Internet Inquiries:

Hayward, Wisconsin arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for flashes in the sky may 21 2011.
20:46:15 -- 9 minutes ago

Omemee, Ontario arrived from google.ca on "elp allsky" by searching for orange meteor may 21 2011.
20:46:38 -- 11 minutes ago

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

A Flurry Of Fireballs? Additional Fireball Inquiries To ELPALLSKY 20MAY2011 And 21MAY2011

ILLINOIS:

Chicago, Illinois arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for flame flying through sky near illinois may 20 2011.
23:33:06 -- 2 hours ago

TEXAS:
Baytown, Texas arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for green light across the sky may 2011 houston.
00:18:23 -- 1 hour 16 mins ago
San Antonio, Texas arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for fireballs in the sky may 21.
00:52:34 -- 44 minutes ago


CALIFORNIA:
Vista, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for Red fireball in the sky in wilmington ca.
00:22:22 -- 1 hour 13 mins ago
Murrieta, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: AL GA NC FL Large Bright Green Fireball 20MAY2011..." by searching for big flash in the sky may 21 2011.
01:15:53 -- 21 minutes ago

PENNSYLVANIA:
Springdale, Pennsylvania arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for anyone else see the meteor before 11:00 pm may 20 2011.
00:37:32 -- 58 minutes ago

CANADA:
Châteauguay, Quebec arrived from bing.com on "elp allsky: Meteor News...Possible Bright Meteor Event Along Gulf Coastal States, SE US...21JAN2011" by searching for falling meteor on May 21- 2011.
Surrey, British Columbia arrived from google.ca on "elp allsky: AL GA NC FL Large Bright Green Fireball 20MAY2011..." by searching for may 20 2011 fireball.
01:36:01 -- 2 minutes ago

AL, GA ,TN, NC, FL, Large Bright Green Fireball 20MAY2011...

Inquiries To ELPALLSKY Indicate Possible Green Fireball Seen Over Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee And Georgia 9:47 to 9:50pm CDT 10:47pm to 10:50pm EDT-20MAY2011

From The Chat Window:

May 22 2011, 5:40 PM Guest803 (guest): Dacula, Ga 5/20/2011 10:45pm a green fireball came buy and pulsed four times before i lost site of it

May 21 2011, 12:31 AM Guest120 (guest): Hello, Covington Ga, around 11-11:30pm, sitting in the backyard with several friends, when a flash of light quickly darted across the sky, as bright as a lightning storm, by the time we ran to see what it was it was gone. Can see streaks in the sky of where it passed through. It was to quick for us to see it, but it was so bright over my house, but I couldnt quite see it due to trees and my home in the way.

May 21 2011, 6:25 PM Guest191 (guest): I was sitting out in the street with my friends, celebrating the last day of school, when I suddenly saw a ball of green fire fly through the night sky. My friends also saw red and white in it, but it was truly amazing.

E-Mails From: 

P. Waller-Sandy Springs, GA:
On late Friday evening around 11:00pm, I walked out from dropping off mail at the post office on Glenridge Drive near Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs, Georgia, (@285 and Roswell Rd.) I looked up after seeing a huge streak of light forming across the sky directly above me. It came from the east and moved toward west's direction. It formed right before my eyes, beginning whitish blue in color and then faded to yellow then red until it was gone. It was so wide, I believe that I heard the sound of it's swooping. I could not believe what had just saw, so I yelled to cars passing by, "Did you see that?" They just kept driving by as if though I was "off my rocker." Could it be that I was the only one that saw it? No I thought. I mentioned it to a few people that evening as I returned home and they looked at me as if though I was crazy also, being synonyms with the "end of the world" claimed by a religous group that the world would end the following day. I am now relieved to know that there were many others that saw the huge light breaming across the sky.

Kelley C.-Greensboro, GA:
On Friday May 20, 2011 at approximately 11:00 pm we witnessed a huge blue fireball (or something) cross the sky.  At first it as blue and then turned orange.  It was gone in a flash but was absolutely beautiful and nothing we had ever seen before.  It was traveling west, northwest.  I would love to know more about it!
 





Trisha D.-Newton, AL:
My boyfriend and I were at the Continental Drive-In in Newton AL and we were facing north. Around 11PM, we were watching the new Pirates movie and behind the screen a brilliant, blazing ball of yellow/green flew for about ten seconds through the sky. It was incredible! I'm sure everyone at the drive-in watching that movie saw it. It looked REALLY close.


Starr82-Covington GA:
a friend and I were standing outside of work facing SE around 11p.m and saw the object, it moved in a seemingly straight line glowed green and lasted for about 15 seconds. the object was moving NW.



Susan In Ringgold, GA:
Friday, May 20, 2011 Ringgold, Georgia
Last night, like most nights I was sitting on my deck watching the sky. I'm in Ringgold, Georgia which borders Chattanooga, Tennessee. Just before 11:00 EST I spotted a very low light that at first I thought was fireworks because of it sparkly tail. It was traveling S to W-NW (used my compass to be sure) It was very short lived, maybe two seconds. It was neon green and it looked for all the world like it exploded, then it was gone. What looked like an explosion lit up the sky, but there was no sound? I follow meteor showers and they do make noise when they explode, so I'm confused. Immediately after it was gone there was a second explosion of light, still no sound. About thirty minutes later I did see a "falling star" but it was traveling in the opposite direction.

Steve H.-Atlanta, GA:

Greetings,

I believe I saw the very end of this fireball. I was walking my dog  along Starfire Drive NE in Atlanta (30345) When I looked up and saw a while light about the size of a cantaloupe only 40 or 50 feet above. It had a trail behind it and was completely soundless. After seeing it for a few seconds it burned out and silently disintegrated right above me. That was the weirdest thing. It seemed to end its journey right there. Poof and it was gone. Here is approx location. It came from a southerly direction.

Latitude = 33.8446, Longitude = -84.2811

Lat    = 33 degrees,   50.7 minutes   North

Long = 84 degrees,   16.9 minutes   West



Bryan N- Lilburn, GA:
22:47 EDT sitting in front yard facing west. Suddenly a brilliant green fireball streaked across the sky, lasting less than a second. It was so bright and low in the sky that at first I thought it was a firework. It was completely silent and moved at a rate of speed similar to meteors I have seen. It was the brightest thing of it's kind I've ever seen, and tweeted about it right away.

Ian H.-Madison Ga:
a little before 11 I was heading south on the highway and i looked out the passenger window and saw a bright green flashing ball of light with a trail of gold sparks, heading what looked like NW.  then it disappeared

Deana W-Enterprise, AL:
I saw it, too!  Thanks!
I was in the backyard for a cig, facing NE.  I live in SE Alabama (Enterprise).  It was heading north and rather low in the sky.  It came from the east, but there are trees in that direction, so I didn't see any point of origin.  It went behind more trees and houses, so I didn't see an ending either.  It did flash once or twice, but I couldn't hear anything.  It was a neon green/yellow in color.  I mentioned it on FB and a friend of mine who was driving in the area also mentioned she saw it.
thanks again!

Anonymous:
I was sitting outside waiting to get off work me and like 10 guys sawa steaming light in the sky. A bright flash right in front of our eyes wow. First time witnessing that.

Justin F.-Smyrna, GA:
My wife and I saw a large blue/white/green streak of light over Smyrna, GA. We were facing southwest and it moved from left to right. We were able to see it for several seconds. It appeared to be very low. I guess it was a meteorite but I have never seen one this low before.
-Justin

Krista F.-Panama City FL:
I was outside with neighbors and three of us saw BRIGHT yellow multiple streaks, then a flash of green ball, then a shorter line of yellow streaks, then a flash of green ball and then it seemed to disappear on the horizon. We are in Panama City Beach, FL and this was north to slightly northwest.


From The Internet:


Wilmington, North Carolina arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for 5/20/2011 fireball in sky.
21:23:09 -- 18 seconds ago

Kennesaw, Georgia arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for big flashes in the sky 2011 5/20.
21:17:51 -- 1 minute ago

Atlanta, Georgia arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for bright flash of lights in the sky may 23 2011 .
21:13:53 -- 3 minutes ago

Covington, Georgia arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Feb 6, 2011" by searching for comet over georgia 5 minutes ago.
21:06:25 -- 11 minutes ago

Anniston, Alabama arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for meteor 5/20/2011.

Woodstock, Georgia arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Elevated Green Fireball Activity Expected APR 25-MAY 02, 2011 As NEO's Approach..." by searching for green meteor ga may 20 2011.
21:00:28 -- 17 minutes ago

Marietta, Georgia arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for atlanta may 19 2011 green and red commet or meteor.
20:57:49 -- 20 minutes ago

Talladega, Alabama arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Breaking Meteor News...Large Green Meteor Fireball IA, IN, KS, MO, NE 8:47pm CDT 20APR2011..." by searching for flash in sky followed

Ooltewah, Tennessee arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Tennessee Meteor Fireball? 03APR2011..." by searching for tennessee meteorite may 20.
19:31:45 -- 1 hour 8 mins ago

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

Bright Long Duration Fireball Captured From TX Sandia Sentinel Camera 19MAY2011...

Sentinel Camera In Hawley TX Captures 5 Second Dawn Fireball Nearly Overhead 10:52:10 UTC-05:52:10 a.m. CDT 19MAY2011

Image Courtesy Sandia Sentinel Fireball Camera-Kevin Palivec Hawley TX

Color Camera Image Courtesy Kevin Palivec-Hawley TX

Internet Traffic...Possible SO CAL Meteor Fireball 18MAY2011...

Inquiry Via Internet To ELPALLSKY:

Santa Rosa, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Inquiries...Possible Meteor Fireball Houston TX 18MAY2011..." by searching for fireball 5/18/2011.
23:58:48 -- 5 minutes ago

Highland, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky:" by searching for reentry sky burned up.
00:53:59 -- 48 minutes ago

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

Tucson AZ Booms...Meteor? 18MAY2011

Internet Traffic To ELPALLSKY:


Tucson, Arizona arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for sonic boom in tucson az.
23:39:36 -- 16 minutes ago

Tempe, Arizona arrived from search.aol.com on "elp allsky: AZ Meteor Fireball 14MAY2011 Captured By ELPALLSKY And Mexico Sentinel All Sky Cameras".
23:06:18 -- 51 minutes ago

Mesa, Arizona arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for breaking news tucson 5/19/2011 am.
02:18:19 -- 4 minutes ago

***Readers, this may have been associated with a meteor fireball. If you saw a bright meteor in/near Tucson AZ, please email wxtx01@gmail.com with details. Thank you!***

UPDATE...BC AB Canadian Bolide 14MAY2011...Witness Likely Saw Fireball Head-On

Witness Reports Fireball "Didn't Move Much"...Indicates A Head On View...Says Searchers Looking In Wrong Place

Witness In Canyon Park BC:

"I just happened to be up because I couldn’t sleep and I saw it and it was behind Canyon Park, on the mountains on that side. They’re looking for it on the wrong side of town.
It was red and orange when I saw it and it had a tail. I didn’t know what the hell I was seeing. Because I was half asleep, I was up. Then I saw it for more than 30 seconds. It didn’t seem to go anywhere and maybe it went down behind the mountains, I’m not sure. I was in Canyon Park and there’s a big mountain range right there. I don’t know if it was in front of it or behind it because I was half asleep and it was night. I did hear a boom. I’m like what the heck’s going on. It wasn’t green. I thought it was red and orange. There was no green or white. It was just in one spot, burning up. It was to the east of Canyon Park. If they’re looking around the lake, they’re looking in the wrong spot. I couldn’t sleep all night. At least now I know it was worth it."

 

Inquiries...Possible Meteor Fireball Houston TX 18MAY2011...

Internet Traffic Suggests Possible Meteor Over/Near Houston TX 18MAY2011


Houston, Texas arrived from google.com on "elp allsky:" by searching for flashes of light in sky Houston TX  may 18 2011.
21:14:07 -- 1 hour 10 mins ago

Houston, Texas arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Inquiry...Possible Meteor Fireball Houston TX 18MAY2011..." by searching for lights over houston may 18 2011.
22:45:13 -- 7 minutes ago

***If you saw a fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

UPDATE...Large Fireball Tucson AZ 22:55:26 MST 14MAY2011 Image Acquired...Rocks On The Ground? Tucson Hunters Alert !!

 Tucson AZ 14MAY2011 22:55:26 MST Image From MMT Observatory-Mt Hopkins, AZ

image courtesy MMTO Mt. Hopkins AZ-click image to enlarge

Initial Landfall Estimations For Canadian Bolide Of 14MAY2011

From ELPALLSKY-16MAY2011:

Finnish Meteor Physics Expert Esko Lyytinen Calculates Initial Impact Area Of Canadian Bolide Based On Single Camera Solution

I have some rough one-station results, based on fitting to mutually timed observations. This means that the direction of entry will be got from the angular velocity changes. ( Also the deceleration is from this, but the deceleration affects mostly near the end, and can be got as separate at least roughly in good instances.)
The whole track must be scaled by getting a resonable start height.
The entry velocity of 22 km/s would correspond the start height of 86 km. The end, behind clouds, but allready dimming fast, is got at 19 kilometers.
It arrived from az direction 17 with the slope of 39 degrees. I expect the accuracy of these to be a few degrees ( if I did the star identifications correctly).
This would mean a good size meteorite down. It would have fallen very roughly about 60 km to the SW of the camera station. But I would hope that some other camera also captured this.
Regards,
Esko

Initial Impact Area AB-BC Bolide 14MAY2011 (c)2011 ELPALLSKY & Google Earth

UPDATE...Canada Fireball Bolide Video Captured By Sandia Sentinel Camera - College Of The Rockies, Cranbrook BC, Canada...

Reported Sightings

(c) 2011 Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News and Google Earth

Written by Rick Nowell
Sunday, 15 May 2011 10:07

The dark night sky of Cranbrook was lit up like daylight early Saturday morning at 2:17am (Mountain Daylight Time) when a huge meteor rocketed overhead. Appearing as a dim dot at first, likely 100km high to the North, it rapidly grew into a big white ball as big as the moon, with a tail behind it.

 Fireball First Appearance<http://www.bcmeteors.net/images/stories/COTR/j20110514_081741_000.jpg

>

Fireballs First Appearance from High

It flared into brilliance, lighting up the whole sky and layers of white clouds to the Southwestern horizon. Within four seconds the flare sank as it moved a bit South of West, sinking down into the clouds, towards the setting Moon and Creston and Spokane way. It headed in a direction of about 230 degrees. Then a dull rumble of thunder sonic boom followed after it since it was going at supersonic speeds.

 Fireball with Tail<http://www.bcmeteors.net/images/stories/COTR/fireball_14may.jpg

>

Fireball Develops Tail, Passes Over Cranbrook

Reports are coming in from across Southwestern Alberta, Southeastern BC, Idaho, and Washington. People have seen it along a broad strip from Calgary, Bowden, Red Deer, Cranbrook, Spokane, Coeur d"Alene, Nelson, Kamloops, Penticton and Kelowna, Most describe an intense greenish white ball of light, hitting somewhere around Kelowna. Ed Majden found these reports at http://lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com/2011/05/montana-washington-idaho-alberta.html

At Cranbrook, the College of the Rockies Meteor camera imaged it for 9 seconds as it went overhead. The camera has a wide-angle fisheye lens, so be aware the video frames above show the entire sky, with the horizon as a ring around the edge. North is at the 3 o'clock position, East at 12 o'clock. The streetlights of Cranbrook are along the bottom right, you can see two tall trees at 10 o'clock lit up from the College parking lot. The Sentinel camera is black and white (for best starlight sensitivity) so these orange colours are false. We can't verify the green tint people reported. (I can verify the thunder, since I heard that too, after the flash. I thought it was a distant thunder storm...)

Dave Balam from the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory says "I've searched the DAO images from last night and we were completely overcast. Too bad....that's a classic bollide and could have dropped a few stones."

Dr Ken Tapping from the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics in Penticton says: "I think I got it too, although my time is a little different. 2011May14 at 08:19:00 UT. In EastNorthEast, heading SouthEast, just above the ENE edge of my camera field, and rapidly leaving it. Broadening and brightening rapidly, but I did not get the really bright stuff. That is one heck of a video."

http://www.bcmeteors.net/component/content/article/1-latest-news/123-rick-nowell.html

Copyright © 2011 The British Columbia Meteor Network. All Rights Reserved.

thanks to Rick Nowell at College Of The Rockies, Cranbrook BC, Canada

UPDATE...Edmond OK Multiple Meteor Fireballs 14MAY2011 Source Revealed...

Emails From:

Ashley In Edmond OK:
HI,  My family and I and watched something in the sky last night at approx 9:30 pm last night. We saw a total of 7 fireballs. 2 first which seems like they paralleled each other then one single fireball. Then 3 more (which we have on video)  followed by one more. Each lasted approx 30-45 seconds and seemed to be orange- yellow color with a definite bright red on the top. I live in Edmond, Oklahoma and they falling/ flying from northeast to south west. I'm very interested in finding out what exactly these objects were. THANKS for any insight you can provide.

Ashley, seems we've discovered the source of your fireballs...

From Linda In Edmond OK:

Hi Ashley,

Do you live in Settlers Crossing or Southerly Farms neighborhoods?  I believe what you saw was my daughter's 14th birthday celebration launch of Chinese Sky Lanterns. 

Search YouTube for video and see if this is perhaps looks like what you saw. Date and time of sighting fit with our launch.  There were 11 of them, green, orange, pink purple, yellow and blue.

Linda   

thank you for coming forward Linda. Congrats to your daughter! Ashley, you can sleep now.

First Of 2 Tucson AZ Fireballs 14MAY2011

Emails From:

Steve, Lisa & Jenna G.-Tucson AZ:
Wanted to let you know Lisa, Jenna and myself witnessed the “Tucson Fireball” night before last. We were out walking at dusk and saw a bright flash out of the corner of our eyes.  In the northern sky at about 30 degrees we saw a meteor that lasted approximately 4 to 5 seconds and broke into two distinct pieces as the flames diminished.  The path seemed to be towards the southeast.  I would call it a brilliant white with a bit of blue to it.  We did not observe any sounds.  I opened my phone and recorded the time to be exactly 2000hrs mountain standard time.  A very punctual rock.   thank you Steve, Lisa and Jenna...fine example of a good fireball report!

Rosella T. In Tucson AZ:
Hi.  It was Saturday night around 8 pm on May 14, 2011 that I was out on my north facing balcony here in Tucson, AZ, when I saw a huge fireball.  It seemed to be very close and about the size of a compact car.  It was bright yellow and it seemed to have a red ring in between the ball and its long tail.  It was going horizontally from west to east and was not high up in the sky.  I saw it clearly because it was not going extremely fast.  It got lost behind trees and I turned to look at the moon and it seemed that this fireball was a lot closer in proximity than the moon.  What was this fireball?? 

From The Chatbox:

Jamie (guest): My husband and I both saw what looked like a meteor/fireball last night. We were in the center of the Tempe campus of ASU and were looking up and to the east. It looked so huge that my husband commented that it looked like it could have landed in Apache Junction. It was almost exactly at 8pm when we saw it.

AZ Meteor Fireball 14MAY2011 Captured By ELPALLSKY And Mexico Sentinel All Sky Cameras

Numerous Emails & Internet Inquiries Indicate Fireball Event In Arizona 14MAY2011...Captured By Sandia Sentinel Camera (ELPALLSKY) EL PASO, TX And Hermosillo Mexico  05:55:13 UTC 15MAY2011 (11:55:13 p.m. MDT 14MAY2011-10:55:13 p.m. MST)

Observation From John G. In Tucson, AZ:

Copy of a fireball report sent 05/15/11 4:03 PM to
International Meteor Organization (IMO)
Fireball Report Form
http://www.imo.net/fireball/report

Date, Time and Location:
Date : 2011 May 14
Time: : 22:55:00 MST
Location : Tucson AZ USA Pima county
Longitude: 110° 49' 20.64" West
Latitude : 32° 8' 11.76" North
 

Fireball Parameters:
Apparent path earth-based coordinates
Beginning point elevation: 40°
Beginning point azimuth : 290°
Ending point elevation : 30°
Ending point azimuth : 340°

Description:
Comparison with brightness of full moon: Brighter than full moon
Duration:: 3 seconds
Color(s): white only
Trail: yes
Fragmentation: no
Persistent Train: yes
Angular Velocity: Scale medium
Sound: None
Shower: unknown

Observer:
Observer's name: John G.
Address: On File
e-mail: On File

Comments:
Naked eye observation
Two observers, ages 57 and 12.
I am an amature astronomer.
No cloud cover at time of observation.
City lights.
Observers had been outside for 1/2 hour so our vision was dark adapted.

Apparant diameter of fireball:
Start: bright Venus
End : 3/4 diameter of full moon

At the time the observation was made the moon was visible, with parameters
(from Sky View Café set to my coordinates)
Azimuth : 14° 14' 12''
Altitude: 42° 38' 56''
Magnitude: -12.0
Illuminated fraction: 92.9%
Angular diameter: 33.39'

As the moon was visible at the time of my observation,
I have confidence in brightness and size comparisons relative to full moon. 

                Thanks for sharing this report John!

E-mails From:


popealexander93 In El Paso TX:

On May 14, 2011 I say a fireball in El Paso Texas. I was facing west between 11:45pm and 12:00am when i looked up and say a bright red fireball streak across the sky and go behind the franklin mountains. I didn't hear any noise and the fireball was pretty large in size. I don't know if it was a comet, meteor,  or what? Can you validate what i say? Contact me with any questions on what i saw.
Andrea P. In Tucson, AZ:
Hi I was at a party last night in downtown Tucson, Arizona when I saw the fireball (maybe 10:30 or 11?)  I worked teaching astronomy for years in very dark skies (compared to urban Tucson at near full moon!)  but I have NEVER seen anything so spectacular. I saw it in the eastern sky, moving from south to north.At first it was white light, getting brighter and brighter and leaving a trail, but then it burst into multi-colored light and several pieces (10?), each of which burned in twinkling colors.  It was SO bright! most people at the party thought it was some sort of firework a neighbor had set off. (you were looking for descriptions for elp allsky, right?)
no pics, sadly!
Andrea

Internet Inquiries:

Phoenix, Arizona arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for shooting star seen in arizona may 14 2011.
00:56:39 -- 35 minutes ago

Marana, Arizona arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Jan 14, 2011" by searching for meteorite may 14, 2011 tucson.
00:19:17 -- 1 hour 13 mins ago

Mesa, Arizona arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: "Large Fragmenting Meteor Fireball 8:48pm MST Phoenix AZ 08APR2011"...NOT A FIREBALL AT ALL!" by searching for meteor near phoenix.
00:02:43 -- 1 hour 30 mins ago

Event Captured By ELPALLSKY:

image courtesy Sandia Sentinel Fireball Camera-El Paso, TX

Event co-captured by Dr. Salvador Aguirre-Sandia Sentinel All Sky Camera-Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico

***We need visuals on this event! If you saw this fireball, please email wxtx01@gmail.com with details of your sighting. Thank you!***

Bright Meteor Fireball Alberta Canada, MT, ID 14MAY2011...

Bright Yellow Fireball Southern AB Canada May Have Also Been Seen In Montana And Idaho... 

Email From:

Stephanie SS ( Calgary, AB, Canada):
Hello, I was driving south on HWY 2 (QE2 HWY) just passing Bowden Alberta, traveling to Calgary Alberta.  It was a relatively clear sky and initially thought it was an airplane dropping from the sky.  It was bright yellow, and I may have heard a whistling noise.  My daughter was the passenger, and just saw the last of it, before it hit the horizon.  Did not see any impact flashes, or debris (dust cloud, etc).  I suspect it burned up before impact.  Seen many falling stars, but never one so large. It was shortly after 2am, Mountain Standard...on May 14, 2011

Sadie MacD-Kootenay BC
We live on the east shore of Kootenay lake in south eastern B.C.  Last night at around 1:30 am, we saw a bright flash of light that lasted slightly longer than lightning.  There were no clouds in the sky.  About 45 seconds later, we heard a long, rolling thunder-like sound that lasted almost a minute.  A friend was driving north along the lake road and saw a meteor and thought it landed in the lake.  He said it was as big as a house.  Rumors around here say it landed in Llyodminister, Alberta.

***Readers...This was also possibly seen from Montana and Idaho. If you witnessed this event, please email your description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. to wxtx01@gmail.com  Thank you for your report***

Possible Southern California Meteor Fireball 13MAY2011...

Internet Traffic Indicates A Fireball Event Over LA Area Early a.m. `01:30 13MAY2011

From The Chatbox:

Janette D. In Riverside, Ca May 14 2011, 9:31 AM

On 5/13/2011 at approx 1am

I was travelling north on Van Buren Bl. I saw a huge fireball in the sky. It came from the west. It flew past me and Im sure it must have hit the ground, but I didnt hear or see any impact.



Internet Inquiries:

Riverside, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for fireball in sky may 13 2011 california.
22:15:35 -- 2 hours 12 mins ago

Lancaster, California arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: BREAKING METEOR NEWS...Major Meteor Fireball With Sonic Booms Southern California Possible Reentry Of Sa..." by searching for lancaster ca sonic booms.
21:45:33 -- 2 hours 42 mins ago

Hollywood, Florida arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Bright Green Streak In CA Sky-Meteor Fireball Indicated By Internet Traffic 06:45-06:47 PDT 14 MAR2011" by searching for bright meteor over California.
22:24:28 -- 2 hours 4 mins ago

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

Possible TX Panhandle Meteor Fireball 13MAY2011...

Internet Searches Indicate A Fireball Event Over Texas Panhandle:

Amarillo, Texas arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Breaking Meteor News...Large Green Meteor Fireball IA, IN, KS, MO, NE 8:47pm CDT 20APR2011..." by searching for large green ball falling in the sky flare.
21:32:55 -- 3 minutes ago

Plano, Texas arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Bright ISS Pass Over El Paso, TX 17APR2011..." by searching for bright lights in el paso sky.
21:21:17 -- 14 minutes ago

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

UPDATE...VA Booms 10MAY2011 Associated With Meteor Fireball Now Reported By Eyewitnesses

From ELPALLSKY 13MAY2011:
A handful of eyewitnesses in Virginia Beach, VA are now reporting that they saw a meteor/fireball just prior to loud booms which shook residents and residences there on May 10th, 2011 at a little past 7:00 pm EDT. The following broadcast is from Virginia TV station WAVY.

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

Long Duration Bright Fireball Over El Paso TX Captured By ELPALLSKY Camera 12 MAY2011

A -7.1 magnitude, 6 second duration meteor fireball captured by ELPALLSKY-Sandia Sentinel Fireball Camera-El Paso, TX at 02:53:38 UTC 13MAY2011 (20:53:38 MDT) 12MAY2011

Meteor News...PA Meteor Fireball 13MAY2011...

From The Chat Box:

 

May 12 2011, 10:17 PM Guest389 (guest): 

Hi my name is Jay my friend a scranton PA police officer said he saw a fireball over scranton may 12th or 14th about 9:30 pm est he said it was like somthing entering the atmosphere with a glow in the front...sorry 13th

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

Meteor News...IL IN Meteor Fireball 13MAY2011...

Internet Inquiries:

Genoa, Illinois arrived from google.com on "elp allsky" by searching for saw a green blue ball with a tail streaking through the sky then disappeared.
22:54:45 -- 1 hour 14 mins ago
Lombard, Illinois arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: May 12, 2011" by searching for green meteor may 12 2011.
22:43:42 -- 1 hour 25 mins ago
Fort Wayne, Indiana arrived from bing.com on "elp allsky: UPDATE TO BREAKING USA METEOR NEWS...Large US East Coast Meteor Fireball Bolide DEC28, 2010!!!" by searching for just saw a meteor may 12, 2011.
22:42:47 -- 1 hour 27 mins ago
Scranton, Pennsylvania arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Daylight NE US Fireball Seen In Numerous States...Reports Still Coming In 14FEB2011" by searching for fireball seen in west scranton .
22:10:27 -- 1 hour 59 mins ago
Orland Park, Illinois arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: Possible Large WI, MI Meteor Fireball With Sonics 18APR2011..." by searching for Wisconsin meteor 2011.
22:38:52 -- 1 hour 33 mins ago
Oswego, Illinois arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: May 12, 2011" by searching for fireball in the sky may 12, 2011.
00:21:17 -- 32 seconds ago
Oswego, Illinois arrived from google.com on "elp allsky: May 12, 2011" by searching for fireball in the sky may 12, 2011.
00:21:17 -- 55 minutes ago


E-mails From:

John In New Haven, Indiana:
At approx 12:30am May 13, I walked outside and just happened to notice a large green fireball shoot across the W to NW  the sky.  So bright that it shown through the clouds.  It was very quick and disappeared within seconds.  No sonic boom could be heard but definitely a meteor.  I stayed for several more mins but no other meteors appeared.  Did anyone else in the area see the same thing?

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***

South Africa Massive Green Meteor Fireball Reported To ELPALLSKY 11MAY2011...

Email From Neil Fitzgerald-South Africa:
I saw a massive green meteorite in the NorthWest province (South Africa) at +-18:12 GMT+2. It was moving in a southern direction. It covered from horizon to horizon in 4 seconds. It was spectacular and the biggest I've ever seen! Anyone else in SA seen it aswell? Neil   thank you Neil!

***If you saw this fireball event, please e-mail wxtx01@gmail.com with a description including time, date, location, which way you were facing, direction object traveled (right to left etc. is OK), color, any fragmentation or extremely bright flashes, and any sounds heard i.e. booms, hisses etc. Thank you for your report***