[meteorite-list] NZ reports "falling", "flaming" object

From: MexicoDoug <MexicoDoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:48:30 -0600
Message-ID: <004301c73b6b$ed9a4b80$d7cd5ec8_at_0019110394>

Meteorite D?j? Vu?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10419869

Photos: Comet mistaken for plane in fiery plunge
Friday January 19, 2007
By James Ihaka

(photo by Dave Curtis) The McNaught Comet seen from Dunedin.

The Fire Service and police around the country received calls last night
from people mistaking Comet McNaught for an object falling from the sky.

"One person in Welcome Bay called and said they saw something falling from
the sky and another near Waiuku said they thought a plane was on fire," said
Fire Service communications centre spokeswoman Leah Denton.

A police spokeswoman in Wellington confirmed they had also received calls
from "people who were wondering what was happening".

The comet, which was named after Australian astronomer Robert McNaught who
discovered it last year, is expected to be visible at twilight for the next
three weeks.

It is 124 million kilometres from Earth and is now moving away from the sun.
Astronomers say it can be spotted in the southwestern sky shortly after
sunset.

Carter Observatory senior astronomer Brian Carter said the comet was the
brightest in more than 40 years. Nasa astronomer Tony Phillips said the
comet was 100 times brighter than Halley's Comet when it appeared in 1986.
Received on Thu 18 Jan 2007 08:48:30 PM PST