We were driving SW on E Washington Ave when we saw it as we drove about 2 blocks. Windows closed so could not hear. Near airport so I thought it was plane lights off to the right, then saw it streak ahead off to the right and the small fragmentation but still a main bright light. Then I thought it was fireworks except for the long horizontal trajectory. Less than 30 seconds later a low-flying large jet plane flew on approach to airport over E Washington Ave at Marquette street with a roughly NNE heading which was roughly perpendicular heading across the fireball's apparent trajectory and the pilots could have seen the fireball.
Location
Address
Madison, WI
Latitude
43° 6' 34.59'' N (43.109609°)
Longitude
89° 20' 7.34'' W (-89.335371°)
Elevation
267.876m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time
2018-02-28 20:47 CST
UT Date & Time
2018-03-01 02:47 UT
Duration
≈7.5s
Direction
Moving direction
From up right to down left
Descent Angle
264°
Moving
Facing azimuth
282.47°
First azimuth
316.35°
First elevation
35°
Last azimuth
253.41°
Last elevation
27°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude
-9
Color
White
Concurrent Sound
Observation
Unknown
Remarks
-
Delayed Sound
Observation
Unknown
Remarks
-
Persistent train
Observation
Unknown
Duration
-
Length
-
Remarks
-
Terminal flash
Observation
Unknown
Remarks
-
Fragmentation
Observation
Yes
Remarks
fragmentation: seemed to leave a trail of bright smaller pieces immediately behind it
