[meteorite-list] (meteorobs) Major Fireball Over Southern California, Arizona, and Southern Nevada

From: Mike Hankey <mike.hankey_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:55:35 -0400
Message-ID: <CAJak_qWbVgerhYtnYpyBowFDruVn+yi=8FOU6V1RVEi3y8DnFA_at_mail.gmail.com>

Here's an update on this fall with a google map of all the witness plots.

http://www.amsmeteors.org/2011/09/major-fireball-event-seen-from-southern-california-arizona-and-nevada-september-14th-2011-945-pdt/

You can review all of the AMS witness reports visually with this map.

I'm still working the trajectory solutions. Right now I can't get a
very reliable solution because of the wide diversity in reports. So
really need to spend more time refining the witness reports -- this is
a case of too much data right now.

Best guess regarding the termination point is somewhere between Yuma
and Phoenix AZ. I would suggest looking for radar in this general
area.

On the negative side, there are few credible sound reports. Only 1
report of a boom and the boom came before the guy saw the meteor, so
that sounds a bit fishy. Also the trajectory solutions I have, all
show what looks to be a very shallow entry angle and a lot of
witnesses are reporting a long event (10+ seconds), so it would be
interesting to hear some opinions regarding the possibility of space
trash.

We will update this post with more info as it becomes available.

Those interested in finding meteorites or chasing this AZ fireball
should really try tracking down all sky video from one or more of the
numerous camera operators in the area.

http://allsky.ca/NAdatabase.html

On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 12:23 PM, Mike Hankey <mike.hankey at gmail.com> wrote:
> This has made national news on MSNBC and CNN...
>
> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44529188/ns/technology_and_science-space/
>
> http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/09/15/southwest.strange.light/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
>
> AMS reports are now over 100.
>
> We should have maps of AMS witness reports plotted later today.
>
> This area is heavily covered with all sky camera, so there should be
> some videos out there. I do not have time to chase camera operators to
> ask them to look for video, but if anyone on the list feels like doing
> this, have at it:
>
> http://allsky.ca/NAdatabase.html
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 7:42 AM, Robert Lunsford <lunro.imo.usa at cox.net> wrote:
>> The American Meteor Society has been deluged with over 50 reports of a bright fireball occurring just before 20:00 PDT (also MST) on the evening of Wednesday September 14th. A quick look indicates maximum brightness equal to that of the full moon and possibly some fragmentation. I will not be able to post these to the AMS web site until later today, after I return home from work. If I can add any details after reading all the accounts, I will post them.
>>
>> Clear Skies!
>>
>> Robert Lunsford
>> American Meteor Society
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>>
>
Received on Thu 15 Sep 2011 06:55:35 PM PDT