Reports Report 1046dr (Event 1046-2026)

Observer
Name Matthew W
Experience Level 2/5
Remarks We were driving eastbound on the 101 I know we had passed the 405 and it was sometime after 7:00 p.m. me and my wife both saw it, felt like it was the closest meteor we had ever seen, honestly didn't know to classify as a fireball until I watched a January 10th video from Los Angeles where someone caught a video of one it looked very similar to that. I think we were close because of the angle it wasn't streaking across the sky it was almost like it was coming straight down just in front of us. It was very bright with increasing intensity and then turned into a fireball at the end. Can't report if I heard anything we were in the car. Seems like we were close enough to actually sort of make out the flames at the end it wasn't just like a orange glow I want to say I even saw a tiny bit of smoke after the burning stopped.
Location
Address Los Angeles, CA
Latitude 34° 9' 21.79'' N (34.156054°)
Longitude 118° 26' 35.71'' W (-118.443253°)
Elevation 198.703491m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time 2026-02-13 19:05 PST
UT Date & Time 2026-02-14 03:05 UT
Duration ≈3.5s
Direction
Moving direction From up left to down right
Descent Angle 159°
Moving
Facing azimuth 90°
First azimuth 90°
First elevation 90°
Last azimuth 90°
Last elevation 20°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude -
Color Orange, Yellow, Light Yellow, White
Concurrent Sound
Observation Unknown
Remarks -
Delayed Sound
Observation Unknown
Remarks -
Persistent train
Observation Yes
Duration 2s
Length 20°
Remarks Glowing train
Terminal flash
Observation Yes
Remarks It was bright almost light yellow or white increasing intensity until it turned into a fireball and then disappeared
Fragmentation
Observation Unknown
Remarks -