[meteorite-list] Bright Meteor Seen in New Zealand

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Aug 2 19:43:10 2004
Message-ID: <200408022343.QAA24577_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=3581883

Meteorites seen in North Island
New Zealand Herald
August 3, 2004

Meteorites were reported this morning in the Auckland region and the
lower North Island.

The police central communications centre said a meteorite which streaked
across the lower North Island sky in the early hours of this morning had
been seen by pilots from several aircraft.

It had been described as quite bright, white and green, breaking up as
it crossed the sky, a spokesman said.

Police had received five reports from people who had seen the meteorite
from Hawke's Bay to the upper South Island.

National Radio reported pilots had narrowed the landing point of the
meteorite to the sea northeast of Cape Palliser in southern Wairarapa.

Sergeant Paul Lee of Masterton police said he had seen a bright orange
line in the sky, brighter in the front and fading away towards the back.

"It was a flash in the sky, a definite line."

There was also a report of a meteorite in Waitakere City around 6.35am.

Alan Barlow, a 32-year-old IT worker from Auckland, said he was driving
east on Hobsonville Rd when he saw a bright object about the size of a
softball cross the sky in front of him.

"It was probably a thousand feet high, and had a tail about 20-feet long
that was a bright luminous green."

Mr Barlow said the meteorite was visible for 5-8 seconds, and he
presumed it had landed in the Hobsonville air force base.

"I was keen to pull over and have a look for it, but figured that would
probably be a waste of time - and I had to get to work."

He said he just hoped the meteorite had missed the houses in the area.
Received on Mon 02 Aug 2004 07:43:05 PM PDT