The sky lit up before the fireball was seen. I was getting my mail (no lights out there) and thought someone was slowly turning a light on. Then as the fireball appeared, it was almost like daylight for 1-2 seconds and I heard what I thought could be thunder in the distance. It was cloudy and it looked like the fireball burst through the clouds coming almost straight down.
Location
Address
Van Buren Charter Township, MI
Latitude
42° 13' 1.55'' N (42.217097°)
Longitude
83° 31' 8.24'' W (-83.518956°)
Elevation
212.388306m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time
2018-01-16 20:09 EST
UT Date & Time
2018-01-17 01:09 UT
Duration
≈3.5s
Direction
Moving direction
From up left to down right
Descent Angle
177°
Moving
Facing azimuth
305.77°
First azimuth
300.68°
First elevation
50°
Last azimuth
303.66°
Last elevation
45°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude
-22
Color
Light Green, White
Concurrent Sound
Observation
Yes
Remarks
I thought it was thunder
Delayed Sound
Observation
Unknown
Remarks
-
Persistent train
Observation
No
Duration
-
Length
-
Remarks
-
Terminal flash
Observation
Yes
Remarks
Almost like a firework
Fragmentation
Observation
Yes
Remarks
Small pieces coming off, but did not see them fall too far
