Fireball report

Reports Report 2493a (Event 2493-2020)

Observer
Name	John R
Experience Level	2/5
Remarks	I live in a remote rural area on 15 acres with no light pollution, no visible car traffic or local aircraft. Nothing but stars here at night. I woke around 1am and laid in bed with a window facing West with no curtain or blind on it. At 1:23am by my bedside clock, I witnessed an extremely bright light on the edge of the bed similar to if a car headlight was passing by my window which is impossible. The light moved from West to East along the edge of the bed. The bed's headboard is oriented West. The window is facing West. Because I only saw the light from the object reflecting on my bed, and not the object itself, I did not see the object with my naked eye but only the light it cast. The direction of travel of the light would indicate it was traveling more or less from the Southeast to the Northwest or perhaps East to West or South to North. It lasted for about 3 seconds and was a bright white light from what I could discern from its reflection off the bed. I at first thought a car was passing by which made no sense since there is no road withing that range. The only thing that made sense is it was a very bright falling star or a fireball. I've never seen a falling star that made that much light which for me was astonishing and a little scary. It made no sound.

Location
Address	Sunizona, AZ
Latitude	31° 53' 5.75'' N (31.884931°)
Longitude	109° 37' 53.86'' W (-109.631627°)
Elevation	1335.052002m

Time and Duration
Local Date & Time	2020-05-23 01:23 MST
UT Date & Time	2020-05-23 08:23 UT
Duration	≈3.5s

Direction
Moving direction	From up left to down right
Descent Angle	150°

Moving
Facing azimuth	256.35°
First azimuth	120.01°
First elevation	66°
Last azimuth	299.96°
Last elevation	43°

Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude	-24
Color	White

Concurrent Sound
Observation	No
Remarks	-

Delayed Sound
Observation	No
Remarks	-

Persistent train
Observation	Unknown
Duration	-
Length	-
Remarks	-

Terminal flash
Observation	Yes
Remarks	I live in a remote rural area on 15 acres with no light pollution, no visible car traffic or local aircraft. Nothing but stars here at night. I woke around 1am and laid in bed with a window facing West with no curtain or blind on it. At 1:23am by my bedside clock, I witnessed an extremely bright light on the edge of the bed similar to if a car headlight was passing by my window which is impossible. The light moved from West to East along the edge of the bed. The bed's headboard is oriented West. The window is facing West. Because I only saw the light from the object reflecting on my bed, and not the object itself, I did not see the object with my naked eye but only the light it cast. The direction of travel of the light would indicate it was traveling more or less from the Southeast to the Northwest or perhaps East to West or South to North. It lasted for about 3 seconds and was a bright white light from what I could discern from its reflection off the bed. I at first thought a car was passing by which made no sense since there is no road withing that range. The only thing that made sense is it was a very bright falling star or a fireball. I've never seen a falling star that made that much light which for me was astonishing and a little scary. It made no sound.

Terminal flash

Observation

Yes

Remarks

I live in a remote rural area on 15 acres with no light pollution, no visible car traffic or local aircraft. Nothing but stars here at night. I woke around 1am and laid in bed with a window facing West with no curtain or blind on it. At 1:23am by my bedside clock, I witnessed an extremely bright light on the edge of the bed similar to if a car headlight was passing by my window which is impossible. The light moved from West to East along the edge of the bed. The bed's headboard is oriented West. The window is facing West. Because I only saw the light from the object reflecting on my bed, and not the object itself, I did not see the object with my naked eye but only the light it cast. The direction of travel of the light would indicate it was traveling more or less from the Southeast to the Northwest or perhaps East to West or South to North. It lasted for about 3 seconds and was a bright white light from what I could discern from its reflection off the bed. I at first thought a car was passing by which made no sense since there is no road withing that range. The only thing that made sense is it was a very bright falling star or a fireball. I've never seen a falling star that made that much light which for me was astonishing and a little scary. It made no sound.

Fragmentation
Observation	No
Remarks	-