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USAF News Release (Satellite info on fireballs)
I received the following information from Peter Brown yesterday. It is USAF
surveillance satellite data released in regards to it's detection of various
recent fireballs. I haven't seen it posted on these folders yet, so I'm
posting it.
GeoZay
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USAF NEWS RELEASE
From: Headquarters Air Force Technical Applications Center
Office of Public Affairs
Patrick AFB, Fl.,
32925-3002
(407)-494-9915
Date: June 8, 1998
****************************************************************************
On 30 September 1997 at 12:31:18 UT, sensors aboard U.S. Department of
Defense satellites recorded the bright flash of an apparent meteoroid
disintegrating in the atmosphere. Location of the flash was approximately
38.2S, 63.2 E. Peak flash intensity recorded (assuming a 6000K blackbody (BB)
radiation model) was 9.0E9 watts per steradian (W/Sr), corresponding to
a visual magnitude of -18.9. Total radiated energy, using the same
6000K BB model, was 2.3E10 Joules.
Previously, on 5 September 1997 at 11:41:54 UT, another bright flash was
similarly recorded. Location was approximately 31.2S, 56.3E. Peak recorded
intensity (6000K BB model) was 2.4E10 W/Sr, corresponding to a visual
magnitude of -19.95. Total radiated energy (6000K BB model) was 1.9E11 Joules.
On 1 October 1997 at 14:27:13 UT, sensors aboard U.S. Department of Defense
satellites recorded another bright flash. Location of the flash was
approximately 47.1N, 109.0E. Peak flash intensity recorded (assuming a
6000K blackbody (BB) radiation model) was 1.7E10 watts per steradian,
corresponding to a visual magnitude of -19.6. Total radiated energy, using
the same 6000K BB model, was 6.2E10 Joules.
*************************************************************
On 9 December 1997 at approximately 08:15:55.2 UT, sensors aboard a
U.S. Department of Defense satellite recorded the bright flash of
an apparent meteoroid disintegrating in the atmosphere over
Greenland. The peak radiated intensity recorded on this event
was 9.5E10 watts/sr (using a 6000K blackbody model for the
radiation). Correspondingly, the total radiated energy of the
event was 2.7E11 Joules.
***********************************************
On Thursday 9 October, 1997, at 18:47:15 UT (1247 local), sensors
aboard the US Department of Defense satellites recorded the bright
flash of an apparent meteoroid disintegrating in the atmosphere.
Location of the flash was approximately 32.N, 106.W. Peak flash
intensity recorded (assuming a 6000K blackbody radiation model)
was 1.0E11 watts per steradian, corresponding to a visual
magnitude of -21.5. Total radiated energy, uusing the same 6000K BB
model, was 1.9E11 Joules.
(If you have questions call MSgt Rene Uzee, Air Force Technical
Applications Center Public Affairs at, (407) 494-4403.)
*****************************************************************************
PLEASE NOTE: THIS USAF BOLIDE INFORMATION RELEASE AND ALL PREVIOUS RELEASES
CAN BE FOUND ON THE WWW AT
http://phobos.astro.uwo.ca/~pbrown/usaf.html