Fireball over Sydney?

[Danack (Dan Ackroyd)]

Well that was a good time to put the bins out.

As soon as I stepped out into the street (9:0gpm), there was a fireball moving NW to SE fast about 45 degrees elevation - I'm in Kirribilli so it would have gone over most of the city. After about two seconds it separated into chunks and then disappeared after another half second.

Anyone else see it? Or fancy giving me odds on it being a meteor rather than a rogue firework?

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi Dan,

Most likely it was a meteorite , or more specifically, a "bolide". I saw one the other night on the weekend, bright fireball in the south almost towards the South Celestial Pole. lasted for about 2 secs.

The Perseid meteor showers are happening around now (and have been for a week or more) as Earth moves through the debris field left over from the comet Swift-Tuttle. There has been quite a few recently so you seem to have caught one first hand which is great!

Take a squiz for about half an hour one clear night and you should see maybe 4-5 if you are lucky. I saw 2 more in the space of 20 mins after my fireball on the weekend.

I had the camera out, but it was on the scope, so no photo of that one unfortunately.

Cheers

Chris