Reports Report 251n (Event 251-2023)

Observer
Name Rick L
Experience Level 2/5
Remarks I've never in my 67 years seen one so bright. Maybe was not a meteor? Was very foggy and misty looking skyward here in the mountains with snowy haze, yet was super bright lighting up the "fog". "Appeared" to come STRAIGHT down, but I suppose that would depend it's trajectory vs my position. Super bright head and bright tail. Looked like a flare, except instead of going up, was appeared suddenly and very fast moving straight "down", then just disappeared. My location is somewhat rural, so not as dark as true rural but on clear night can definitely see the Pleiades for example, and can definitely see the distinct very reddish glow of Mars (not this morning, but on typical clear night), but this location not nearly dark enough to see the Milky Way. Again, I've never seen such a bright "shooting star" type object my whole life.
Location
Address Candler, NC
Latitude 35° 34' 44.78'' N (35.579105°)
Longitude 82° 40' 59.67'' W (-82.683241°)
Elevation 729.083618m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time 2023-01-14 06:00 EST
UT Date & Time 2023-01-14 11:00 UT
Duration ≈1.5s
Direction
Moving direction From up to down
Descent Angle 180°
Moving
Facing azimuth 242.26°
First azimuth 246.41°
First elevation 41°
Last azimuth 247.32°
Last elevation 14°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude -18
Color White
Concurrent Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Delayed Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Persistent train
Observation No
Duration -
Length -
Remarks -
Terminal flash
Observation No
Remarks -
Fragmentation
Observation No
Remarks -