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(meteorobs) Daytime Bolide
Guys -
I am cross-posting this from our RASC list. This is from an observer in Toronto, southern Ontario.
- Cathy
Great White North
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: B. Cheaney, INTERNET:bcheaney@globedirect.com
DATE: 3/7/97 8:16 PM
RE: RASC List: Daytime Bolide
Hi All
What a way to start the weekend.
At 3:52pm EST while driving home I saw my first ever daytime Bolide. It was simply FANTASTIC.
The bolide moved from SW to N on a small downward angle approx. 55 degree above the horizon. It lasted
for only 2 to 3 seconds and covered about 40 degrees of the sky.
It's started as a single bright white streak and then it turned blue as it broke apart. I watched carefully for
the colour change to orange or red but it never happened . After turning blue it disappeared.
It broke up similar to the fireball depicted in the Feb/97 issue of S & T (page 104) with a large chunk on the
main stream and smaller bits falling off below. There was a small smoke trail but it disappeared very quickly.
What was really astonishing was how bright it was. That area of the sky was a bright light blue due to the
sun location. The bolide had the brillance of a welders arc again light blue background. It was if the meteor
was made of magnesium. It also burned ! very clean leaving a very sharp streak.
I always wished I would see a daytime fireball, now after 30 years of looking up my wish came true.
Keep looking up.
Brian Cheaney
Toronto Centre