Fireball

[Allan_L (Allan)]

WOW!
Talk about lucky to be in the right spot at the right time.
12:55 am Sunday night (Monday morning)

Just popped outside to have a look at the sky before heading to bed.

Was lucky enough to witness a bright Fireball.
Brighter than the planet Venus.
Tear across the sky, directly overhead, heading NorthWest to SouthEast.
Bright Orange/red glow, with a long smoke trail.
Heading from Canis Major toward Crux.

It seemed very low in the sky, I expected to hear a crackle, but did not.

And just as it passed overhead, it broke into two.
A smaller piece apparently falling off towards the North East.
Almost as bright with its own fiery tail.

Stood in amazement for a while. Wishing for someone to share to moment with. So that is why I am sharing it with you.

Boy, talk about being lucky to be here!
(in every sense of the words).

Clear skies!

[glend (Glen)]

I was just outside as well but must have just missed it. I was seeing if it was worth firing up the observatory but the high cloud bands ruined that.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Sounds like a beauty!

Mike

[Atmos (Colin)]

I must have only just missed it!

[issdaol (Phil)]

Might have been Thor's Biliskner on uncontrolled re-entry !! He He

I saw a small Fireball on Saturday Evening in the East which was impressive but sounds like yours was bigger !

[starfield7 (Dave)]

Allan,

meteors typically glow/vapourise between 90-30km altitude. If they survive, they will stop vapourising below 30km and fall to the ground dark.

Given the limitations of the speed of sound you won't hear anything, like a sonic boom, until a minute or two after the event.

Feel free to submit your report to the Facebook group Australian Meteor Reports where we attempt to determine a trajectory of meteors that we feel may be good candidates for meteorite falls.

Regards
David Finlay

[AstralTraveller (David)]

I was outside at that time relaxing and looking at the Orion area. I saw nothing. Pity.

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

The International Meteor Organisation has a fireball report page. They especially appreciate southern hemisphere reports, as they don't get too many.

http://fireballs.imo.net/members/imo/report_intro

[glend (Glen)]

I saw a fairly big one last night, well this morning at 1:15am as i walked out to the observatory. It appeared in the east up about 60 degrees and proceeded directly overhead towards the west, burning out west of the meridian.

[LewisM]

I did see a mini-shower the other night whilst observing Orion. At least 7 or 8 within a 3 minute window, all heading the same direction passing in front of Betelgeuse and all VERY low brightness (but still trailing) I assume these would more likely be "dirtballs" than iron/metallic, and most likely part of a gravitationally torn apart larger mass.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Now for the ' truth '


.... Their coming

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

We are near the peak of the Alpha Centaurids meteor shower. It is the highest source of fireballs for the southern hemisphere, so it's not surprising for people to see a few.
It's an amazing sight, all the better when you understand what is happening.

[theodog (Jeff)]

Originally Posted by Allan_L

Tear across the sky, directly overhead, heading NorthWest to SouthEast.

Originally Posted by AussieTrooper

We are near the peak of the Alpha Centaurids meteor shower. It is the highest source of fireballs for the southern hemisphere, so it's not surprising for people to see a few.

I don't think this was an Alpha Centaurid.

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

Originally Posted by theodog

I don't think this was an Alpha Centaurid.

Haha, neither do I. The direction doesn't fit.

But in general, people will be seeing more fireballs this time of year.