Reports Report 1438bx (Event 1438-2013)

Observer
Name Mia W
Experience Level 3/5
Remarks At approximately 12:00 am, my sister and I were driving NE on Eastfield Rd. The sky was partially cloudy, and we saw the sky lighting up through the windshield in a way that I've never seen the sky light up at night. I looked to my left, out of the driver's side window (which was facing north) in the direction that the light seemed to be coming from. I saw a flash of light, similar to lightening in color. If measuring it from the ground, it was about 2 inches long with a circular origin and what I can only describe as a straight beam of light coming out of the bottom of it. It flashed quickly like lightening and was gone. We arrived home within five minutes and heard a distant sounding boom. We had no idea what this was and were so excited to find this! Thanks to everyone for reporting it!
Location
Address Charlotte, NC
Latitude 35° 13' 37.51'' N (35.227087°)
Longitude 80° 50' 35.26'' W (-80.843127°)
Elevation -
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time 2013-07-13 00:00 EDT
UT Date & Time 2013-07-13 04:00 UT
Duration ?
Direction
Moving direction Unknown
Descent Angle -
Moving
Facing azimuth -
First azimuth -
First elevation -
Last azimuth -
Last elevation -
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude -
Color White
Concurrent Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Delayed Sound
Observation Unknown
Remarks Heard a distant boom, which occurred about 5 minutes after seeing it
Persistent train
Observation No
Duration -
Length -
Remarks -
Terminal flash
Observation Unknown
Remarks -
Fragmentation
Observation Unknown
Remarks -