Reports Report 5778e (Event 5778-2018)
| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | David P |
| Experience Level | 3/5 |
| Remarks | I am an EMS helicopter pilot. I was flying from Texas Medical Center to KDWH Airport and I observed the meteor coming towards me. The meteor was very bright, I thought it could be an approaching airplane until I saw the train. The meteor continued towards me, passed overhead, and then continued to the South. I turned the helicopter to continue observing it but lost sight of it because it passed directly overhead and I couldn't turn the aircraft sharp enough to follow it. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Houston, TX |
| Latitude | 29° 51' 41.88'' N (29.861634°) |
| Longitude | 95° 32' 37.42'' W (-95.543727°) |
| Elevation | 29.292549m |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2018-12-26 05:08 CST |
| UT Date & Time | 2018-12-26 11:08 UT |
| Duration | ≈7.5s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From up right to down left |
| Descent Angle | 261° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | 338° |
| First azimuth | 350° |
| First elevation | 45° |
| Last azimuth | 180° |
| Last elevation | 60° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -12 |
| Color | White |
| Concurrent Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Delayed Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Persistent train | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Duration | 8s |
| Length | 10° |
| Remarks | The train was half the brightness of the fireball and was orange-ish in color. The train followed the fireball until it went out of view. |
| Terminal flash | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Fragmentation | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | You could see the train had separations in it as it was coming apart and burning up. |