Fireball report

Reports Report 168bp (Event 168-2018)

Observer
Name	Bryan S
Experience Level	1/5
Remarks	The fireball seemed to be headed roughly north-west (traveling away from me)

Location
Address	Ann Arbor, MI
Latitude	42° 17' 40.58'' N (42.294605°)
Longitude	83° 43' 8.77'' W (-83.719104°)
Elevation	279.346405m

Time and Duration
Local Date & Time	2018-01-16 20:10 EST
UT Date & Time	2018-01-17 01:10 UT
Duration	<1s

Direction
Moving direction	From up right to down left
Descent Angle	210°

Moving
Facing azimuth	350.17°
First azimuth	349.35°
First elevation	47°
Last azimuth	341.75°
Last elevation	22°

Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude	-22
Color	Orange, Yellow

Concurrent Sound
Observation	No
Remarks	-

Delayed Sound
Observation	Yes
Remarks	I heard a weird low rumble within 30s of seeing the meteor. It was a strange oscillating rumble that lasted maybe 10s. I can't recall the exact sound anymore, but I remember thinking it sounded very different from anything I've heard before. It sounded similar to a sonic boom, but it wasn't really a neat "boom". I can't really compare it with anything. Imagine a large diesel machine dragging a large bundle of bouncing wood boards across a metal floor, and all of that muffled with oscillating volume.

Delayed Sound

Observation

Yes

Remarks

I heard a weird low rumble within 30s of seeing the meteor. It was a strange oscillating rumble that lasted maybe 10s. I can't recall the exact sound anymore, but I remember thinking it sounded very different from anything I've heard before. It sounded similar to a sonic boom, but it wasn't really a neat "boom". I can't really compare it with anything. Imagine a large diesel machine dragging a large bundle of bouncing wood boards across a metal floor, and all of that muffled with oscillating volume.

Persistent train
Observation	No
Duration	-
Length	-
Remarks	-

Terminal flash
Observation	No
Remarks	-

Fragmentation
Observation	Yes
Remarks	First, the weather was cloudy and the sky was already somewhat pale with snow, so if there was a smoke trail it probably was obscured. The meteor itself was roughly as large in appearance as a big raisin at arm's length, and clear enough through the scattered clouds to distinguish the ablation from the core. I didn't see much in the way of fragmentation until right before the fireball disappeared, at which time I saw one or two very small specks peel off, one of which still burned for a split second after the rest of the fireball disappeared. The specks were about the size of a small hangnail at arms distance. (note, I do have very good eyesight, 20/10) I saw no end fragmentation besides the small speck(s). The fireball simply went dark suddenly. Unlike its entrance, which I first noticed by the ground and sky becoming gradually bright with the orange yellow glow (< 1 sec though of that before I saw the fireball itself for another < 1 sec).

Fragmentation

Observation

Yes

Remarks

First, the weather was cloudy and the sky was already somewhat pale with snow, so if there was a smoke trail it probably was obscured. The meteor itself was roughly as large in appearance as a big raisin at arm's length, and clear enough through the scattered clouds to distinguish the ablation from the core. I didn't see much in the way of fragmentation until right before the fireball disappeared, at which time I saw one or two very small specks peel off, one of which still burned for a split second after the rest of the fireball disappeared. The specks were about the size of a small hangnail at arms distance. (note, I do have very good eyesight, 20/10) I saw no end fragmentation besides the small speck(s). The fireball simply went dark suddenly. Unlike its entrance, which I first noticed by the ground and sky becoming gradually bright with the orange yellow glow (< 1 sec though of that before I saw the fireball itself for another < 1 sec).