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(meteorobs) Fw: RASC List: Fireball Report
From: Robert A.Sears <robertsears99@hotmail.com>
Subject: RASC List: Fireball Report
>Note: this report was submitted to rhawkes@mtadot ca (June 26th)&
>dlemay@quebectel.com (June 29), as per The RASC's Observer's Handbook
>instructions. Also was sent to Colin Haig, President of Hamilton Centre
>RASC. I have been attempting to send this out to rasclist since June 27/99,
>but have had problems w/my server. Sorry you all couldn't read it earlier.
>Has anyone else seen this event? If so, please e-mail me at
>robertsears99@hotmail.com. Thank you.
>
>
>6/26/99 3:20 AM
>Witnessed by:
>Robert A. Sears (Hamilton Centre RASC)
>#202-2445 Woodward Ave.
>Burlington, ON
>L7R 1V3
>(905) 637-3368 (Call if you have any questions and please leave message)
>Lat 43 degrees 19' N LONG 79 degrees, 40' W
>
>Time seen 3:20 AM local time, object first appeared at 190 degrees SSE
>travelling west and terminated at 220 degrees SSW, the point of breakup.
>Object first seen at about 40 degrees above horizon, descending to 30
>degrees at time of breakup. Est. magnitude -8 to -10 3/4 brightness of full
>moon. Length of event was 1 to 1 1/2 seconds. I think I witnessed the
>entire event from atmospheric entry to object's breakup. I think it may
have
>been from S Aquarid meteor stream, as it appeared within 25-30 degrees of
>radiant. It appeared to pass through Sagittarius.
>
> Qualitative Description
>
>Fireball was, at first, a whitish-green color (the first third of the
>train), then it rapidly turned a bright whitish-green, and lastly there was
>a breakup of the object, somewhat resembling an explosion. The fireball
>broke up into from 6-10 fragments which glowed bright green with a light
>electric blue component (electric blue was like a nimbus, almost like an
>electric discharge). Also visible was a little red coloration. Apparent
>size of explosion was about thumb-sized and -shaped. There were minimum 6
>fragments visible, maybe as many as ten. There was also a sound associated
>with this event. It started as a "woof" sort of a sound, kind of like the
>sound made by a propane BBQ being lit after a buildup of propane. This
>sound continued until object's breakup; immediately after breakup (1/4 1to
>1/10th second) there was a faint crackling sound, like firecrackers off in
>the distance. The fact of this sound so closely following the object's
>breakup leads me to believe that this object was very close to me when it
>disintegrated. I suppose it is possible that some of the object's material
>could have survived breakup to hit the ground, as the object's speed was
>relatively slow. No train was observed. On a personal note, I was
>completely blown away by this experience. It was beautiful and
>awe-inspiring, a (hopefully not) once-in-a-lifetime experience!!
Absolutely
>stunning. I hope someone else saw this! Could you please send me an e-mail
>confirming receipt of this report? I have been having trouble sending
e-mail
>with my account. Thank you.
>
>Clear skies
>Robert A. Sears
>
>
>
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