Reports Report 4500cs (Event 4500-2017)
| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Allan W |
| Experience Level | 4/5 |
| Remarks | As an Orange County Park volunteer, I host star parties on the Saturday of the new moon each month. Just as our star party was beginning, we saw this amazing fireball. It originated fairly high up, and was descending SSW. It flared at least three times in its descent. There was immediate fragmentation and multiple colors (predominantly white, yellow and red) at each flair. The last flare was terminal. Subsequently, there were sonic booms and echoes within the surrounding hills. I have witnessed multiple fireballs and this one was the second-most significant (in size and duration). It was witnessed by three other volunteers and multiple park visitors. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | San Juan Capistrano, CA |
| Latitude | 33° 32' 11.57'' N (33.536548°) |
| Longitude | 117° 33' 11.71'' W (-117.553254°) |
| Elevation | 135.068m |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2017-11-18 17:29 PST |
| UT Date & Time | 2017-11-19 01:29 UT |
| Duration | ≈3.5s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From up left to down right |
| Descent Angle | 163° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | 159.85° |
| First azimuth | 166.92° |
| First elevation | 73° |
| Last azimuth | 169.42° |
| Last elevation | 25° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -11 |
| Color | Orange, Yellow, Light Yellow, White |
| Concurrent Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | Multiple bangs (sound barriers) |
| Delayed Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | Echoes of sound barriers |
| Persistent train | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Duration | - |
| Length | - |
| Remarks | - |
| Terminal flash | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | There were several flashes (at least three) then a terminal flash. Each flash was triangular and bright yellow with red. |
| Fragmentation | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | At each flash there was substantial fragmentation (stardust) |