I've seen a few fireballs over the last few years.... Always out for meteor shows when weather permits. I'm always star gazing when I'm out on clear nights.... This event was very vivid. It just so happened that I was trying to orient my Cell Phone with a Constellation and Planet APP towards the Constellation Orion to show my 2 friends Orion's Belt and the Constellation. The App has built in GPS and Compass orientation so when you hold it in the direction it will orient it's display to what you point it at. So, I was looking up and my 2 friends had just gone back into the house for a moment. That's when I saw it. Clearly as I was already looking towards the sky. it came into view directly overhead from a little bit behind me to directly where I was looking and pointing my phone with app! I clearly saw the entire fireball streaking and burn up event.
Location
Address
Trenton, NJ
Latitude
40° 11' 45.66'' N (40.196017°)
Longitude
74° 41' 2.56'' W (-74.684045°)
Elevation
21.21m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time
2017-02-23 19:15 EST
UT Date & Time
2017-02-24 00:15 UT
Duration
≈3.5s
Direction
Moving direction
From up left to down right
Descent Angle
94°
Moving
Facing azimuth
192.88°
First azimuth
27.01°
First elevation
79°
Last azimuth
191.25°
Last elevation
70°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude
-13
Color
Green, Light Yellow
Concurrent Sound
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Delayed Sound
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Persistent train
Observation
Yes
Duration
20s
Length
8°
Remarks
Bright fire ball yellowish Green in color burned out as it traveled directly overhead from the North towards the south parallel to the horizon. It left a grayish vapor/smoke trail as it burned out. It came into view sort of behind me as I was facing South. I was looking at the Orion Constellation when It came into my view. Saw the entire streaking event.
Terminal flash
Observation
Yes
Remarks
it flashed out...it appeared to "Burn UP" and just ended it's travel abruptly. Left a vapor / smoke plume for a good 20 - 30 seconds after it disappeared. I assume it burned up?
