Daytime Meteor

[gaa_ian]

As the Resident Astronomer in NE Arnhemland (NT) I get to hear most of the reports of things unusual in the sky.
This one was a first though !
Yesterday afternoon, just BEFORE sunset a bright White Meteor was reported to me streaking accross the sky for a few seconds, obviously very bright to be seen while the sun was (just) still up.:eyepop:
By it's bright white appearance, I presume it was a bit of space junk ?
Anyone else see this ?

[robagar]

didn't see anything myself here in Cairns, but over in NZ they saw a bright white meteor with sonic boom - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/12/nz_meteor/
may be part of the same thing deorbiting?

[SMR]

The event in NZ was quite spectacular. Dennis Goodman of the RASNZ said the sonic boom in Christchurch was enough to shake the house and windows, and went "on for ages". But his event occured around 3PM NZ time, which is 1PM in Qld and 12:30 in the NT. So it's not the same object, but they might be related.

Apparently no large space junk was due to re-enter yesterday afternoon. So it probably was a meteor. And a big one.

Interesting.

[robagar]

cool :) Apart from the time difference ruling it out, is it actually possible for the same meteor to be seen in NT and NZ? how far does yer average lump of chondrite travel, relative to the ground?

[gaa_ian]

Thanks for the feedback fella's, we certainly get our share of bright fireballs etc up here.
I fact I had a nearby neighbour describe an experience to me this afternoon, that happened to her a month or so ago, that can only be explained by ball lightning !
Slow moving intense ball of light, that drifted off and disipated, giving an electrically "charged" experience.
Gee ... I will have to start my own website ... unexplained phenomina in the NT :scared: