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Remarks |
My observation from within an open and circular planting of trees on the NE edge of the MOBOT amphitheater as shown/marked in this report. The appearance was within my mid-upper FOV and westward with a WNW trajectory for approx. 4-5 seconds as it disappeared out of view blocked by trees on the other side of the clearing as it lowered on the horizon to my FOV. However, it was not seen continuing its trajectory as I watched through the tree canopy with only light to moderate tree/leaf interference. Object did seemingly suddenly appear, brighten and quickly "tail bloom" then "tail thin" and seem fade quickly traversing through mostly saturated to unsaturated yellow (sodium or Iron) spectrum being bigger and at least one magnitude brighter than the headlights on the jet liner in my field of view.
A commercial jet liner was in view approximately 10-15 degrees to the south of my observation angle and flying approx. E to ESE and appeared to be climbing. It was the sudden bright appearance of "twin headlights" in the westward sky that even caught my attention. However, it was quickly apparent that the jet liner was flying eastward, and the suspect FB was travelling westward (approx. WNW). Unfortunately, I expect the suspect FB would have appeared about 240-280 degrees/9o'clock/left of cockpit as viewed by left seat pilot and likely above their upper FOV limits to have seen it; but FAA flight paths departing Lambert/STL around this time with departure/climb routes taking them over Tower Grove Park in STL may provide additional time focus and if the pilots reported it, it would be available in tower logs or flight records.
I was suspecting this to be a meteor/comet due to the period of Geminids but it seemed so fast and sudden that I didn't even have time to react to get my wife's attention before it was out of sight so I just sat there and watched the entire event unfold so quickly over the roughly 30-40 vertical FOV degrees looking westward as its trajectory seemed to just end about the time it hit the top of the tree line on the west side of the amphitheater. |
