Reports Report 3221a (Event 3221-2025)
| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | YIMING L |
| Experience Level | 1/5 |
| Remarks | - |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Solvang, CA |
| Latitude | 34° 35' 40.5'' N (34.594583°) |
| Longitude | 120° 8' 32.68'' W (-120.142412°) |
| Elevation | 144.598221m |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2025-06-16 20:38 PDT |
| UT Date & Time | 2025-06-17 03:38 UT |
| Duration | >60s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From up right to down left |
| Descent Angle | 259° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | 133.26° |
| First azimuth | 128.85° |
| First elevation | 52° |
| Last azimuth | 75.6° |
| Last elevation | 31° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -10 |
| Color | Pink |
| Concurrent Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | I heard multiple popping sounds in quick succession, as if it fragmented mid-air with a series of booms. |
| Delayed Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Unknown |
| Remarks | - |
| Persistent train | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Duration | 99.99s |
| Length | 40° |
| Remarks | The fireball left a bright glowing train that stretched across a large portion of the sky. It was clearly visible even after the fireball vanished, lasting about 120 seconds before it faded. As the object fragmented, the train briefly flared and flickered, then dissipated unevenly, like a glowing vapor trail. There was no dark smoke, but the light trail had a dynamic, unstable look as it vanished. |
| Terminal flash | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | The fireball became significantly brighter just before it fragmented. The flash was intense — much brighter than Venus, possibly approaching the brightness of a full moon or even brighter — and lasted about 1 to 2 seconds. As it reached peak brightness, the object broke apart into multiple glowing fragments, creating a brief but dramatic flash. Some of the fragments appeared to trail off in slightly different directions, and the entire fragmentation was accompanied by a noticeable airburst sound several seconds later. After the breakup, the light rapidly faded, and no long-lasting trail remained. |
| Fragmentation | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | The fireball fragmented into several small, glowing fragments that briefly sparkled as they separated. The fragments appeared to remain enveloped in the same air stream, moving together while gradually fading in brightness. They eventually dimmed and disappeared, seemingly falling downward as the glow diminished. The entire breakup was smooth and coherent, without chaotic dispersion, suggesting they remained in the same trajectory envelope. |