(meteorobs) One more specimen radio fireball on WWV transmitter

[Thomas Ashcraft]

Nov 28 2015

Here is another specimen fireball received last night on two short wave 
radios at 25 MHz CW and 20 MHz CW at about 1001:45 UTC with a forward 
scatter reflection that lasted around three minutes.  You can hear a 
dynamic head echo as the fireball strikes the atmosphere and then the 
ionization trail reflects in the WWV transmission until the plasma 
starts to dissipate in the high winds.

This was captured using two stock, unmodified Sangean ATD-803a short 
waves connected to a dual dipole cut for 20 MHz.

Depending on where a person is located in relation to WWV in Fort 
Collins, Colorado, ( within 900 miles maybe? ) this means they might be 
able to do meteor scatter with just a basic shortwave for $70 or so. And 
a simple dipole antenna. Or maybe a variety of other types of antennas. 
( I haven't experimented with other antennas for this. )

Audio file of the fireball here:
http://www.heliotown.com/WWV_Nov282015_100147UT_25cw20cw_Ashcraft.mp3

Audio spectrogram of the above sound file here:
http://www.heliotown.com/wwv_Nov282015_100147UT2520MHzCW_Ashcraft12in.jpg

Radio meteor observing is intricate and sometimes daunting for myriad 
reasons but it might be possible to do with a simple short wave receiver 
if you live in useful proximity to the WWV transmitters.

Clear skies,
Thomas Ashcraft - Radio Fireball Observatory - Lamy, New Mexico