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(meteorobs) Fireball on March 2
Guys -
This is a cross-posting from our RASC e-mail list. It came from an RASC member in Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan.
- Cathy
Great White North
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: Richard Huziak, INTERNET:huziak@SEDSystemsdot ca
DATE: 3/19/97 11:19 AM
RE: RASC List: A Most Amazing Fireball on March 2
I have just received the most amazing report of a fireball
observed in Saskatchewan on March 2, 1997:
Jack and Bernice Long, Box 295, Mortlach, SK, S0H 3E0, were
driving E on Hwy#1 (TransCanada) just 5 miles E of Swift
Current, SK. (By the map, they were pointed at ~ PA 50o).
Bernice had been commenting to her husband on how many
meteors she was seeing, having seen 4 - 6 in the last few
minutes, "unusual compared to the Perseids she is used to
seeing". It was a beautifully, clear night. Suddenly, she
saw a 'burst of hundreds - a very brief, heavy meteor
shower in the S sky". Two or three minutes later, at
almost exactly 10:00pm CST (04:00 UT Mar. 3/97), a
brilliant fireball "as bright as the moon" appeared,
colored red, blue, yellow and white, and sporting a reddish
tail. It lasted 3 - 4 seconds, then exploded in a quick
flash "like a roman candle" and disappeared. The tail
remained visible for a second or so after the main body
extinguished. The fireball was visible out the passenger's
side of the car, so the assumed very rough PA would be
somewhere around 140o. The fireball moved L - R (E - W) and
was low in the sky. Her husband only saw the flash, and
not the main event.
This is obviously an exceptionally interesting report!
There is some uncertainty as to exact details of the 'burst
of hundreds' as Bernice could not accurately describe this
part of the display. She seemed to be a very reliable
observer otherwise and understood the sky. She even
suggested that she should have looked for some bright stars
to 'fix a better position in the sky!". I interviewed her
by telephone (her number at request). The initial report
was much more scanty and was received by Stan Shadick of
the U of S. by letter. A full report will be issued to
MIAC a bit later.
Speculation is running wild around here as the exact nature
of this chain of events! Confirming reports of any meteor
activy on this night and other reports would be very
useful! Stan notes that the minor meteor shower, the rho
Leonids, peaks about that time, but this is a very minor
visual shower or radio shower, and may just be a
coincidence.
Judging by the description of 'very low in the S', it is
likely that this fireball occurred over N. Dakota. but it
should have been visible from AB, SK, MB, ND, SD, MN and
other US states. I have not yet contacted Ed Tagliafierri
or anyone else yet to see if this was recorded by satellite
fireball monitoring.
Please remember that if you are gathering reports, that the
beginning point (PA and alt), end point, event duration,
local time, location of the observer are the most important
parameters. These can only be found through personnal or
telephone interviews most of the time. Only with this
information, we can proceed with triangulation and orbital
determination efforts.
----------------------
Richard Huziak, Saskatoon Centre
Saskatoon MIAC Fireball Report Coordinator
huziak@sedsystemsdot ca