American Meteor Society

Reports Report 5247w (Event 5247-2020)

Observer
Name Susan C
Experience Level 4/5
Remarks This was startling and amazing to see the sky light up as it did, like I stated earlier that in my opinion, it would have the characteristics of a plasma event. Didn't see a meteor, the night was clear, no clouds, no noise, nothing but the sky illuminating for seconds and then back to the normal darkness. I live in Arizona out in the desert and no city lights, no aircraft. This was indeed strange.
Location
Address Rio Rico, AZ
Latitude 31° 32' 29'' N (31.541389°)
Longitude 111° 0' 53.97'' W (-111.014993°)
Elevation 1043.257813m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time 2020-09-17 22:50 MST
UT Date & Time 2020-09-18 05:50 UT
Duration ≈3.5s
Direction
Moving direction From up left to down right
Descent Angle 91°
Moving
Facing azimuth 91°
First azimuth 271.47°
First elevation 52°
Last azimuth 267.64°
Last elevation 51°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude -8
Color Light Blue, Dark Green
Concurrent Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Delayed Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Persistent train
Observation No
Duration -
Length -
Remarks -
Terminal flash
Observation Yes
Remarks This happened so fast, the whole sky all the way around the horizon all the way straight up lit up as a flash that was a greenish/blue, muted color, but brighter than the sky itself before the flash and it lasted for a while, 2-3 seconds, no particular direction, it was in all directions, I was just facing west when it happened, and my husband was looking NE when it happened, that is why I know it was visible in all four directions, frankly, I am wondering if this was a plasma event? Rather than a meteor.
Fragmentation
Observation No
Remarks -