Reports Report 5308aj (Event 5308-2016)

Observer
Name Michael F
Experience Level 3/5
Remarks It was a privilege to see this and share it with my teenage daughter :)
Location
Address Caledonia, MI
Latitude 42° 50' 52.63'' N (42.847953°)
Longitude 85° 33' 55.71'' W (-85.565474°)
Elevation 230.219m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time 2016-12-26 17:48 EST
UT Date & Time 2016-12-26 22:48 UT
Duration ≈3.5s
Direction
Moving direction From down left to up right
Descent Angle 36°
Moving
Facing azimuth 183.51°
First azimuth 181.22°
First elevation 22°
Last azimuth 206.53°
Last elevation 19°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude -20
Color Green
Concurrent Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Delayed Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Persistent train
Observation No
Duration -
Length -
Remarks -
Terminal flash
Observation No
Remarks -
Fragmentation
Observation Yes
Remarks It maintained its brightness throughout its trajectory. At the end, it just fizzled out, much as a bottle rocket would. It did not just disappear, though - I had the sense that, for a brief instant, the color briefly shifted (perhaps more to an amber). The trajectory seemed to shift ever-so-slightly upward. It seemed as if there was a tiny amount of fragmentation at the end, though if there was any it was very tightly constrained to the initial radius of the fireball. And last, I had the sense of a very short vapor trail after it disappeared - but the lighting at that time of day made it difficult to say for sure.