I did not see the initial entry directly because I was facing East. I looked up and back because the intensitiy of the light from above and behind made me expect a magnesium flare. Was unusually long siting even for a breaking up trailer. Ended as a visible ember that appeared to slow and go from orange to red to invisible.
Location
Address
, NJ
Latitude
40° 19' 51.5'' N (40.330971°)
Longitude
74° 7' 27.27'' W (-74.124243°)
Elevation
27.15704m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time
2013-03-22 19:35 EDT
UT Date & Time
2013-03-22 23:35 UT
Duration
?
Direction
Moving direction
Unknown
Descent Angle
-
Moving
Facing azimuth
-1°
First azimuth
-1°
First elevation
90°
Last azimuth
-1°
Last elevation
66°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude
-22
Color
began as white-blue, broke into white pieces, last visible bit glowed dull red.
Concurrent Sound
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Delayed Sound
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Persistent train
Observation
Yes
Duration
3s
Length
45°
Remarks
trail was apparent as slightly glowing dust that fadded simultaneously with breakup fade.
Terminal flash
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Fragmentation
Observation
Yes
Remarks
initial atmospheric entry was brighter than the burn trail or the debris and was sufficiently bright to mimic a magnesium flare in the night sky. breakup was into approx 12 pieces spreading in a typical 45 degree backward pattern over approx 20 degrees of sky and terminated approx 45 degrees above the East horizon.
