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(meteorobs) Fwd: Very Bright Fireball(?), 06 July 2001, South FL USA


What an extraordinary event a fireball is to witness, Tod: Especially one
like you describe - brighter than the full moon, and so bright enough to
cast stark shadows around you, and maybe even pale the sky towards blue!


Tod, you mention that you have reported this event already: if you did so
to one of the amateur meteor groups (IMO, AMS, DMS, etc.), thank you! If
not, I strongly encourage you to consider filing a separate report to the
International Meteor Organization about this, while the details are still
fresh in your mind! You can find the IMO fireball report Web form at:

    http://www.imodot net/fireball/report.html


Also, if any other amateurs in the counties of Dade, Broward, Monroe and
Palm Beach witnessed this same event, please consider submitting your own
independent report to that same Web site above! Such fireball reports are
very valuable, both in statistical studies of worldwide fireball activity,
and perhaps in pinning down any possible meteorite falls from this event!


NOTE: Tod is not a 'meteorobs' OR 'FloridaAstronomy' subscriber. To follow
up, MANUALLY place 'tlandess@miamidot edu' in the "Cc:" line of your reply!

Clear skies,
Lew Gramer <owner-meteorobs@atmob.org>




------- Forwarded Message

Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 13:07:58 -0400
From: Tod Landess <tlandess@miamidot edu>
Subject: fireball sighting
To: meteorobs@atmob.org


Dear MeterObs Members,

I saw a bright fireball and would love to discuss more about it with
someone more knowledgeable about them.  I am not an astromomer and may
not be able to give the best scientific information but I feel that
what I saw was something special.

I was on a sailboat on July 6, around 2:30 am about 25 miles east of
Miami, Fl. headed for Bimini, Bahamas.  The captain was asleep and the
boat was on auto-pilot but I was up on deck watching for ship lights.

I have seen many shooting stars in my life, but what I saw that night
was amazing.

Fireball would seem to describe it.  It was brighter than the full moon
which was was out and bright that morning.  It was bright yellow and had
a long tail or trail which was also yellow with no fragmentation.  It
was moving fast across the sky from east to west and was visible for 3
seconds .  It did not appear to be traveling at an angle towards the
earth but rather accross the sky from the eastern horizon directly
overhead then disapearing in the west.  It seemed to just skip past the
earths' atmosphere.

I did email a fireball report form but would love to discuss this event
further with someone if it is of any interest.

Thank You,

Tod Landess, Miami, Fl.
tlandess@miamidot edu

------- End of Forwarded Message


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