Reports Report 980aj (Event 980-2020)

Observer
Name Gregg D
Experience Level 2/5
Remarks It took me by complete surprise. Just glad I looked up in time to see it and realized what I had experienced.
Location
Address Surprise, AZ
Latitude 33° 39' 30.94'' N (33.658595°)
Longitude 112° 23' 30.56'' W (-112.391821°)
Elevation 388.557526m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time 2020-02-26 05:30 MST
UT Date & Time 2020-02-26 12:30 UT
Duration ≈3.5s
Direction
Moving direction From up left to down right
Descent Angle 100°
Moving
Facing azimuth 99.01°
First azimuth 12.58°
First elevation 59°
Last azimuth 98.99°
Last elevation 51°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude -26
Color white, then multiple colors as it broke up
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 I had just stepped outside my garage, in full darkness, and suddenly there was a very bright white continuous light that lit up the surrounding houses and ground. As I looked up, I saw the streaking white light, but then less than a second later as it fragmented, there was a wider trailing multi-color "spray" of the fragments that reminded me of a firework rocket. As I first looked up at the bright white light, I thought to myself that it must be a helicopter with its spotlight on directed to the ground. But there was no sound, and it continued on its trajectory until it burned out.