Fireball report

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.

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.