[meteorite-list] Daytime firebal just observed from SoCal

From: John Reed <john_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:01:31 2004
Message-ID: <3CFEC5B1.6D13F55C_at_findalltrades.com>

Mark what happened was I looked up in the sky I saw a quick, if you
hold your thumb up to the sky the tail was about as long as the width as
your thumb nail in less than 1 second there was no fire ball just a
quick spark that was in the sky at about 11 o'clock 9 being on the
horizon 12 straight up or maybe 45-50 degrees Then about 3 seconds later
I heard the wind chopping sound I don't think I would of heard it if it
was over 500 ft altitude? it was a very soft sound actually a purring I
looked I remember some shadow going over me, but it was going so fast
from the time I first heard the sound 'til the time I couldn't hear it
any more was about 2 seconds One time I figured it out with a ruler and
a piece of paper I made a horizontal line then I made a dot at 1 in
above the line then I put my ruler across the dot at the same angle I
recalled. The result was that it only went 5 x further than the height
at 50o and about 8x at 45o so if 1in equaled 500ft It might be laying
between 1/2 to 2/3 of a mile away Also I waited and listened for it to
land I didn't hear anything I am sure that this is not exactly accuarate
of course, but I might be close who knows Here's what I was saying
because of the shape? it didn't get up to enough speed to burn up or
blow up and the shape would also be responsible for the motor like wind
chopping sound?
Thanks John

Mark Fox wrote:

> May 5, 2002
>
> Greetings Mr. John Reed and Fellow Meteorite
> Enthusiasts!
>
> Strange meteor report! The sound observed seems
> suspiciously connected with the original (or current)
> shape of the meteorite. I was going to suggest the
> sounds could have been "electrophonic" in origin, but
> since you clearly stated that you heard them "after"
> the appearance of the meteor and not during the
> display, that almost certainly eliminates that
> possibility.
>
> >From what you have described, perhaps it was pretty
> close, but still probably a good number of miles away.
> To judge it to be an iron, on the basis of a lack of
> fragmentation is not compelling enough evidence, I'm
> afraid. If I remember correctly, only one of every
> two stone meteorites are said to fragment.
>
> Please, describe the brightness of the meteor as that
> may help readers get a better picture of the likely
> size of what you saw.
>
> Long strewn fields!
>
> Mark Fox
> Newaygo, MI USA
>
> --- John Reed <john_at_findalltrades.com> wrote:
>
> > > Here's interesting meteorite experience that
> > happened when I lived
> > > in Palm Springs CA some years ago I went out in
> > my backyard one night, it
> > > was
> > > the middle of the night , I noticed a shooting
> > star at about 11 o'clock in
> > > the
> > > sky. 12 being straight up, it was fast with a
> > short tail all over in
> > > about 2
> > > seconds then maybe 3 seconds later the sound of
> > like a propeller chopping
> > > the
> > > wind came over the top of my head (I am going to
> > guess 150-200 ft)all in
> > > about
> > > a 10th of a second and it was literally humming
> > like a motor The general
> > > direction it was travailing is 85% open desert
> > for about 15 miles That
> > > was
> > > about 1986 At the time I figured meteorites were
> > fairly common occurrence
> > > so I
> > > never thought more about it
> > > This fall I am going to look for that meteorite I
> > know what direction it
> > > was
> > > traveling and also the angle I am not sure how
> > high it was all though I
> > > heard
> > > it, but out in the desert it very quite in the
> > middle of the night . I
> > > looked
> > > in the sky I think I remember some shadowy
> > something anyway Here's what I
> > > thought
> > > since it didn't explode it is probably an iron
> > however it has to be a
> > > strange
> > > shape to chop the wind the way it was So if it was
> > a stone then it might
> > > mean
> > > that depending on the shape of a object entering
> > the atmosphere the object
> > >
> > > would or would not pick up enough speed to burn
> > up? Also how much further
> > > do
> > > think it may have gone?
> > > Thanks John
> > >
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Received on Wed 05 Jun 2002 10:15:13 PM PDT