American Meteor Society

Reports Report 6164bf (Event 6164-2019)

Observer
Name DeeDee R
Experience Level 1/5
Remarks I was getting out of my car in my driveway and a bright light caught my eye from my left - almost overhead. I heard a sound like a plane. I watched this BRIGHT light go down to the tree line... there was a trail of sparkling light behind it. I really thought for a second that a plane was crashing. Then I realized I just saw the brightest, biggest shooting star ever in my life. Then I looked it up and saw the videos of fireballs... so maybe that’s what it was?? I know I’ve never seen anything like it before.
Location
Address Heflin, AL
Latitude 33° 29' 50.63'' N (33.497398°)
Longitude 85° 34' 51.55'' W (-85.580987°)
Elevation 324.883148m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time 2019-12-04 19:40 CST
UT Date & Time 2019-12-05 01:40 UT
Duration ≈1.5s
Direction
Moving direction From up left to down right
Descent Angle 165°
Moving
Facing azimuth 325.46°
First azimuth 248.63°
First elevation 90°
Last azimuth 324.19°
Last elevation 13°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude -7
Color Light Yellow, White
Concurrent Sound
Observation Yes
Remarks I thought a plane was going down
Delayed Sound
Observation No
Remarks -
Persistent train
Observation Yes
Duration 1s
Length 10°
Remarks It looked like golden sparkles that followed it
Terminal flash
Observation No
Remarks -
Fragmentation
Observation Unknown
Remarks -