The fireball came from the West as I sat on the east side of my house. I did not initially see the fireball but was alerted when the large concrete patio in front of me was suddently brightly illuminated - with the same bright effect of the searchlight from a hovering helicopter. I stood up and turned to look West over the roof of my house just in time to see the multiple yellow/orange fragments pass almost directly overhead - a bit to the south (directly over Novato.) It took many seconds to pass (maybe as much as 30) before what sounded like sonic booms came from the sky. They sounded much like the finale of a fireworks show. They seemed to go on for quite a few seconds but that may caused in part by echos from the hills and valleys that surround me.
Location
Address
Novato, CA
Latitude
38° 6' 48.81'' N (38.113558°)
Longitude
122° 36' 52.75'' W (-122.614653°)
Elevation
-
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time
2012-10-17 20:00 PDT
UT Date & Time
2012-10-18 03:00 UT
Duration
≈3.5s
Direction
Moving direction
From down to up
Descent Angle
-
Moving
Facing azimuth
245.7837°
First azimuth
207.77658°
First elevation
80°
Last azimuth
151.47687°
Last elevation
79°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude
1
Color
White, then yellow/orange
Concurrent Sound
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Delayed Sound
Observation
Yes
Remarks
It took many seconds to pass after the last fireball (maybe as much as 30) before what sounded like sonic booms came from the sky. They sounded much like the finale of a fireworks show. They seemed to go on for quite a few seconds (10-20) but that may caused in part by echos from the hills and valleys that surround me.
Persistent train
Observation
Unknown
Duration
5s
Length
10°
Remarks
The fireball came from the West as I sat on the east side of my house. I did not initially see the fireball but was alerted when the large concrete patio in front of me was suddently brightly illuminated - with the same bright effect of the searchlight from a hovering helicopter. I stood up and turned to look West over the roof of my house just in time to see the multiple yellow/orange fragments pass almost directly overhead - a bit to the south (directly over Novato.) It took many seconds to pass (maybe as much as 30) before what sounded like sonic booms came from the sky. They sounded much like the finale of a fireworks show. They seemed to go on for quite a few seconds but that may caused in part by echos from the hills and valleys that surround me.
Terminal flash
Observation
No
Remarks
Four to six yellow/orange fragments pass almost directly overhead
