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

From: lebofsky at lpl.arizona.edu <lebofsky_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:44:06 -0700
Message-ID: <6c796f896d64c967e4812dc0a26af4a0.squirrel_at_webmail.lpl.arizona.edu>

Mike:

Please remind me to eat faster next time. I was just finishing dinner at a
place just south of Phoenix or else would have been on I 10 on my way back
to Tucson at the time of the event (missed it by 10 minutes). :(

> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> meteorobs mailing list
>>> meteorobs at meteorobs.org
>>> http://lists.meteorobs.org/mailman/listinfo/meteorobs
>>>
>>
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Received on Thu 15 Sep 2011 07:44:06 PM PDT