Reports Report 1094g (Event 1094-2016)
| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kate P |
| Experience Level | 3/5 |
| Remarks | I saw this meteor/fireball from start to finish. I was looking in EXACTLY the right place at exactly the right time from a darkened room, out an east facing window. It was pure luck that I was looking out at the precise point when the meteor descended. I've stargazed, navigated by stars in a sailboat, observed constellations and meteor showers in rural settings back East in Upstate NY with no light pollution for over 15 years. This event was observed on the North Side of Chicago just off the shore of Lake Michigan, with notable urban light pollution. That said, I am flabbergasted at how bright, big, close and clear this was. It was unlike anything I have ever seen in any setting, in all my life. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Chicago, IL |
| Latitude | 41° 58' 36.08'' N (41.97669°) |
| Longitude | 87° 40' 44.76'' W (-87.6791°) |
| Elevation | 182.274m |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2016-03-19 05:35 CDT |
| UT Date & Time | 2016-03-19 10:35 UT |
| Duration | ≈3.5s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From up right to down left |
| Descent Angle | 240° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | 71.68° |
| First azimuth | 71.51° |
| First elevation | 18° |
| Last azimuth | 68.53° |
| Last elevation | 14° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -12 |
| Color | Blue, Light Blue, White |
| Concurrent Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Delayed Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Persistent train | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Duration | 1s |
| Length | 11° |
| Remarks | Blue glowing train that tapered in width from front to back (wide toward main object, thin tapered tail as it trailed to the end). End of train/tail fizzled out as object descended. |
| Terminal flash | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | A distinct flash, a bright flash toward the end of its angled descent. Against a dark blue/dark purple sky, the light blue/white flash illuminated my white window frame and white curtains, just like a distant lightning flash in the sky would have done. It was amazing. |
| Fragmentation | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | The end of the tail fragmented into smaller sparkling bits as it descended and went out. |