(meteorobs) Fwd: September 27,2003 : Juganatha Fireball Event

[Lewis J. Gramer]

Note: Bharat Adur is now a member of 'meteorobs'. Sorry for
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Welcome, and clear skies over New Delhi!
Lew Gramer <owner-meteorobs at meteorobs.org>



-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 6:41 AM
To: 'owner-meteorobs at meteorobs.org'
Subject: September 27,2003 : Juganatha Fireball Event


	Orissa event known as "Juganath Meteorite" has been one of most
spectacular event in the Indian subcontinent since last which hit Orissa
in the last century.

	We were a team which had reached Orissa just Meteoric hit, this
event happened around 18:30 hours local time (13:00 UT). The description
of this event is as follows:" .... around 18:30 hours the eastern sky
was so brightly lit it was like a local afternoon the brightness was so
strong that many rushed indoors. Over few hubdreds of thousands were
witness to this spectacular FIREBALL event. The luminous ball was bluish
white, crackling and making a lot of noise intial people thought that it
could have some rocket which was being tested nearby site. But that was
not the case. it was truly a a great fireball event of the century..
"said Inspector of Police at Baripada.

	The area where this fireball must have burst forth, has covered
over 8 districts, measuring an area of about 14 to 15 thousand square
kilometers. We visited the site wherein the meteorite passed over a hut
in Sudsudia, Kaptipada, the roof of the hut was totally burnt and we
were able to recover some residue of the meteor. On further
investigation we also heard that where the meteor fell in nearby pond,
and this water in the pond was boiling. We were able to recover more
meteoric residue along with burnt ashes of the roof. We covered nearly 4
district and were able to see meteorite samples from 3 districts, and
did recover the meteorite samples from Purab Suniti, Kenrapara district.

	The results of 'Juganatha meteorite' is in Publication with
"CURRENT SCIENCE".
	We are now trying to determine the orbit parameters based on
meteorite impact craters formed in Paschim Suniti, Purab Suniti, Jubna
all in Mahakalpada region we had seen more than 4 craters in this
region, the largest meteoric crater "Balbhadra crater" was the largest.
the region where there several craters formed is in the paddy fields
many of them have been washed away.
However we are looking for satellite data over India on that day, this
might help in determining the actual brightness magntude for this event.
Brian Marsden ruled out that Near Earth Asteroid 2003SQ222 which came
close to Earth, 10 hours prior to this event. But the event was of
larger magnitude then the Tagish Lake in Canada.

The work is still in progress any other details ca be provided.you can
discuss this further bharatadur at rediffmail.com

Bharat Adur