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RE: (meteorobs) Fireball Observation Reports

Thanx, Ed. Since I am in this area, I will follow up on any USEFUL reports I get

Wayne

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From: 	Ed Majden[SMTP:epmajden@home.com]
Sent: 	Tuesday, July 24, 2001 1:21 PM
To: 	meteorobs
Subject: 	(meteorobs) Fireball Observation Reports

    In order to calculate the ground path and predict a fall area of a
fireball the following information is required.  If any one of these
parameters is missing it is impossible to compute a fall area with any
degree of accuracy.  These measurements MUST be measured with
instrumentation NOT just estimated by visual observation.

1.  Location of the observer, obtained from topographical maps or GPS
reading.
     This should include, Longitude, Latitude measured to the best accuracy
possible.

2.  The azimuth bearing of the fireball where it was first observed.  This
should be measured with a compass and corrected to "true north" bearing, NOT
"magnetic" as often, maps are not available to determined the magnetic
deviation for your location.

3.  The elevation of the fire ball at first sighting measured with a
Clinometer or other angle measuring device.  A simple roof slope level can
be used if you don't have more accurate instrumentation.

4.  The above measurements should be repeated for the last point you saw the
fireball.

5.  From a single location, an observer of a fireball CANNOT define the
flightpath direction of the fireball.  Just report that it was going 'from
right to left' or from 'left to right.

6.  Contact information for the observer should be reported.  E-mail
address, snail mail address or phone number.

7. Report the time of the event indicating a.m or p.m. or use 24 hour format
and indicate the time zone you are in. Don't forget the date.

Additional information that can be useful:
    Report any sound phenomenon like a sonic boom etc.  Try and estimate the
time delay from your first sighting of the fireball to the arrival of the
sonic boom sound.  Report any other sounds if any are present.
    Report the appearance of the event, fragmentation, terminal burst, etc.
If you have a camcorder or other photographic device by all means take a
video or some pictures of the event.  Try and include a ground object for
reference such as a building, tree, or mountain so directions can be
determined at a later time.  An over head picture with no reference object
provides little information to the researcher.  Video or movie records are
extremely important as these can provide information on the velocity of the
fireball.  This CANNOT be arrived at from simple visual observation.

    To arrive at a reasonable ground path and fall area this information is
required or the researcher is just wasting his time at trying to do the
calculations.

    I hope that this guide will help you report information that is useful
to a researcher that is going to spend valuable time doing the necessary
calculations.  PLEASE report any fireball events to a recording agency like
the IMO, AMS, FIDAC, MIAC, MeteorOBS, etc.  Do this as soon as possible when
this information is fresh in your mind.

Ed Majden - MIAC Associate - AMS Affiliate

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end

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