Reports Report 9456ea (Event 9456-2025)
| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mark G |
| Experience Level | 3/5 |
| Remarks | I was piloting a jet aircraft at FL350, flying north to KMSP, about 30 NM west of KDSM, when I observed the object. The object seemed a little slower than most fireballs/ meteors I’ve seen. Overcast skies well below and all clear above. This was a spectacular sight that generated numerous comments on frequency 121.5. I suspect it may have been a man made object recentering the atmosphere. I am very curious what this was. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Des Moines, IA |
| Latitude | 41° 31' 37.57'' N (41.527103°) |
| Longitude | 93° 59' 3.85'' W (-93.984404°) |
| Elevation | 276.400848m |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2025-12-06 18:08 CST |
| UT Date & Time | 2025-12-07 00:08 UT |
| Duration | ≈20s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From up left to down right |
| Descent Angle | 104° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | 10° |
| First azimuth | 20° |
| First elevation | 35° |
| Last azimuth | 80° |
| Last elevation | 30° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -4 |
| Color | Light Blue, Light Yellow, White |
| Concurrent Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Delayed Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Persistent train | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Unknown |
| Duration | - |
| Length | - |
| Remarks | - |
| Terminal flash | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Fragmentation | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | About 4-5 seconds after first seeing the object it started breaking apart. I would say at least three or four large fragments, one or two as bright as the main object, broke off and stayed illuminated for several seconds. |