(meteorobs) Pinpoint flashes (fwd)

• To: meteorobs@latradedot com
• Subject: (meteorobs) Pinpoint flashes (fwd)
• From: Larry Klaes <larryk@ns.villagedot com>
• Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 11:54:18 -0400 (EDT)
• Reply-To: meteorobs@latradedot com
• Sender: owner-meteorobs

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 23:28:18 -0400
From: Mark C. Taylor <mct@INTERRAMPdot com>
To: Astro List <astro@store-forward.mindspringdot com>
Subject: Pinpoint flashes

My wife and I were sitting on our porch tonight (7/12) in Sunnyvale, CA,
and each of us saw multiple STATIONARY PINPOINT lights flash quickly on 
and then off (<1 sec each) in the immediate vacinity of the Big Dipper 
(one near the end of the handle, one inside the bowl)  There were 3-4 
distinct "blips" (one MAY have been a short meteor), all of which occured 
in the 10 minute span from 2240-2250 PDT.  The "blips" were brighter than 
the surrounding "dipper stars" at their max.  The light ranged from clean 
white to a "peachy" off-white.  This was a REALLY unusual looking display.

All I can imagine is that either a series of meteors came in absolutely
parallel to our line of sight (from the waning shower?), or there were
multiple cosmic ray/electron shower events induced by the solar flare
(wouldn't THAT be wild).

Any thoughts?  I've never seen anything like this...
                                              ~~~~~~
------------------------------                |    |
Mark C. Taylor    mct@interrampdot com           |-OO-|
Sunnyvale, San Jose, CA                       | () |
Amateur Astronomer / SJAA Member        --ooO--------Ooo--
Software Architect / Engineer            Kilbert was here  

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