(meteorobs) Fwd: Fireball Report Wednesday, February 16, 2005 approx. 11:55 P.M., Bradenton, FL

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NAMN Fireball Report
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Your Town/State/Country? Bradenton, FL USA
 
Date and Time? Wednesday, February 16, 2005  approx. 11:55 P.M.
 
What compass direction did the fireball appear from? Southwest
 
What compass direction did the fireball DISAPPEAR from? Southwest
 
How long, in seconds, were you able to see it in the sky? 2-3 seconds
 
How many degrees off the horizon was it when it APPEARED?
(As a reference, a closed fist held at arm's length is
approximately 10 degrees.)
  approx. 17 degrees
 
How many degrees off the horizon was it when it DISAPPEARED? approx. 10 degrees
 
How bright did it appear?
Like a star, Venus, the Moon, or the setting Sun?
  The Moon
 
Did it have any color(s)? white/ blue-white
 
Did it appear to fall apart as it went by? What did that look like?
  Yes, It appeared to streak straight down then "sparked apart" in a brilliant 
white ball.
 
Did it leave a persistent streak in the sky after it was gone?
How long did that last?
  It appeared to disintegrate. "Afterimage" was maybe a second.
 
How fast did it move? Use a 1 to 5 scale, 1 being
VERY slow, and 5 being extremely quick.
  4
 
Did you hear a sound?
If yes, what was the time delay from sighting to sound?
  No sound.
 
What is the closest Town/State to where you saw the fireball?
  Bradenton, FL
 
Please put any additional remarks, sketches, drawings, etc. below:
  This was a spectacular, bright white, fireball, that sparked, blazed, and 
appeared to disintegrate. It moved in a perpindicular direction from my vantage 
point from the left to the right. Its trajectory was similar to this:
\
 *
I believe it was very near to my location in proximity. I think it made 
"landfall" either over the Gulf of Mexico or very near the coast.