Staggeringly awesome meteorite/fireball

[Kokatha man]

Well, I've been observing the sky for well over half a century now, and have seen some amazing sights, including some phenomenal meteorites....

But the one my wife and I just witnessed on our nightly walk just paled into insignificance any meteorite I have ever seen!!!

At 9.22/3 pm tonight, an absolutely dazzlingly brilliant meteoric "fireball" lit up the sky E - ESE of the our position, a couple of blocks from our home in Sellicks Beach. (SA)

First observed appearing directly below gamma Hydra with respect to the horizon, and south of Spica, it traversed a distance of approx 15+ degrees at slow motion and disappeared below the level of the Willunga Hills escarpment; still with such energy, apparent size and undiminshed brilliance that both of us are convinced, considering our perspective of it, that it must have struck the ground because of its' appearance when it disappeared below sight. (my wife has also been an avid "AA" for the nearly 40 years we've been together)

It emanated a tail, and would have had a total angular "length" of approx 45' from head to tail tip, as approximated by the waxing moon. The head would have subtended approx 10' with a (roughly) oval appearance, and its' brilliance put the gibbous moon's brightness to shame.

Such a truly spectacular and once in a lifetime sight (and I've seen some ***** spectacular meteorites!) that I intend investigating the area tomorrow, such is it's impact (if you'll pardon the pun!) on us tonight! I even used a chalky stone on the roadside to mark its' relative direction, the time and date after witnessing it; to help in my further investigations.....

Regards, Darryl.

[Ric]

How lucky is that to see a spectacular sight like that.

Congrats Darryl on being in the right place at the right time.

Cheer

[madtuna]

Congrats!

My first and only ever fireball sighting was back in 1975.
I remember it clearly as I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, and as many will know they predicted Armagheddon in 1975.

It took Police, Bushfire Brigade and the local Army Reserves 2 days to find me

[skwinty]

Sounds exciting, hope you dont have to travel too far in your investigations.
Keep us posted!

[erick]

Happy searching!

[Kokatha man]

Thanks fellas - the Good Lady came in to give her "imprimatur" to my report on the meteorite: she reminded me to include the detail of (in her words) "the brilliant emerald-green tinge around the head of the object" - and me the artist!)

I agreed, and said I would post this fact as an addendum - her being a Leo I find it wise to obey such directions: not that I believe any of that guff, being a skeptical Sagittarian! (to paraphrase Arthur C Clarke)

[skwinty]

Hi Steve
Are you still a Jehovah's Witness?

[madtuna]

hell no!! not since I was 15

[skwinty]

I actually chose to become a Jehovah's Witness at the age of 35. It only lasted about two years. I couldn,t give my whole life away to beating the streets and banging on peoples doors. I got excommunicated for refused to comply with all the self sacrifice. That was the last time I ever felt the need for religion, some 20 years ago.

Now what do you get when you cross a hells angel with a jehovah witness?


Some who knocks at your door and tells you to f off!
;)

[Dujon]

Yes, some of those green laser pointers that are sold these days are really just too powerful. ;)

What an amazing observation! What are your chances of finding anything, good sir? By that I mean the sort of terrain in which it might have plonked itself? Bush? Pasture? Access for a vehicle? Are there residents in the proposed area you might door knock to find out if anyone heard anything at about the time you mention, even though it could well have been sub-sonic by approach time?

That though, given your description of incandescence, might mean that it was further away from you than it appeared to be; I'm assuming that your lack of mention of sound indicates that there was none perceived at your location.

Like most people I guess, I've seen countless meteors/meteorites over the years but I haven't even seen one of the 'common' ones which leave a (ion?) trail for more than just a few seconds. I'm deprived I tell you, deprived (yes, it's an 'i' not an 'a').

Anyway, Darryl, good luck with the research should you decide to proceed with it. I look forward to any report you deem fit to post here.


Cheers,

[Kokatha man]

All of the above questions occurred to me, either at the time or during the night: I'll be getting my compass out and going down the street to where I marked the direction/alignments on the road, checking that against maps to gauge the countryside up there.

The lack of a noise did have me wondering as to its' proximity: I was almost anticipating a loud report when it struck the horizon. Not hearing one means that it was highly unlikely to have impacted just beyond the horizon line - and it (the terrain) is actually a wide plateau over the hilltop. This, the vagaries of the road networks up there and the terrain/ground cover have, I admit, severely dented the initial optomism I had in the rush of the moment.

Still, I did go up onto my observation deck a couple of hours later to check for any (possible) fire-glow: with the condition of the countryside, and last weeks bushfire up near there, it was an unwelcome possible outcome.

The (ion?) trail - perhaps charged particles creating an "energized" trail, though never doing the research to establish whether they are such I don't know, and if I have, I've forgotten the explanations - but I allways presumed these trails to be disintergrating particles from the plummet through the atmosphere.

In fact, I have seen some absolute "doozies" that displayed these fragmenting trails; one particular one splitting into two outstanding "fireballs" that each then put on their own display: but even that paled into insignificance in comparison to last night. Interestingly, last night's phenomenum displayed a tail that was much "fatter" than usual and remained intact for the entire descent - no fragmentation - and spanned approx half a degree in length, not including the "head."

Will do the compass and map thingy today; but am enmeshed with Customs and freight ***** trying to get my EQ platform for the dob out of holding, so I don't think I'll get any reconnoitering in today. Will read the papers and ask around to see if anyone else saw it - possible other sightings from elsewhere may provide additional clues to getting a better "fix" on its descent path.

Cheers, Darryl.

[fringe_dweller]

damn we went for a late afternoon walk instead of the night walk, was nearly going to, would of been out there at that time, oh well, thanks for the excellent report Darryl, what a ripper :thumbsup: