Reports Report 4209i (Event 4209-2017)

Observer
Name Amy H
Experience Level 3/5
Remarks Some of the other drivers *had* to have seen this!! Looked like it was headed for Taos at the closest, but more likely Raton, NM or Southern CO, due to the shallow angle, but was so *big* in our field of vision that I kept looking for signs of an explosive local landing. Bigger and brighter than *any* meteor I have ever seen, as a casual observer of annuals like the Perseoids and Leonids...!
Location
Address Santa Fe, NM
Latitude 35° 36' 28.42'' N (35.607895°)
Longitude 105° 49' 29.38'' W (-105.824828°)
Elevation 2467.425m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time 2017-11-09 18:26 MST
UT Date & Time 2017-11-10 01:26 UT
Duration ≈7.5s
Direction
Moving direction From up right to down left
Descent Angle 266°
Moving
Facing azimuth 78.27°
First azimuth 132.47°
First elevation 65°
Last azimuth 9.57°
Last elevation 52°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude -9
Color Blue, Orange, Light Yellow, Red, White
Concurrent Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Delayed Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Persistent train
Observation Unknown
Duration -
Length -
Remarks -
Terminal flash
Observation No
Remarks -
Fragmentation
Observation Yes
Remarks Bright white shooting star for 3 seconds, slow moving then flared *very* bright white for 2-3 seconds, then flared very bright white *again* for 1-2 seconds with a bluish hint and red/yellow after, and at least 4-5 *distinct* chunks of bright white broke away in separate N-NW-ish directions, with their own trails, exactly like a fist expanding to a full hand spread. Wow!! Wish we'd had a camera, but were driving at the time on I-25.