Reports Report 1202bbw (Event 1202-2021)
| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jonathan B |
| Experience Level | 3/5 |
| Remarks | I've seen some large "shooting stars" and witnessed a break up before but never like this (except for video). The fact it was able to illuminate a clear sky against an almost full moon made me think its probably worth a report here. I'm convinced this was a near 90 degree elevation pass as it was over my head and not even as far over as my rear view mirror unless I've been on a subtle bend in the road and not realised, but it's a fairly straight section there so I don't think so. I stopped the car and put my window down and radio off to listen for a sonic boom but it may have taken too long anyway so I don't know if there was one unfortunately but it was spectacular enough that I expected I had a good chance to hear one |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Tirabad, Wales (GB) |
| Latitude | 52° 3' 14.27'' N (52.053964°) |
| Longitude | 3° 37' 18.57'' W (-3.621824°) |
| Elevation | 292.494141m |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2021-02-28 21:55 GMT |
| UT Date & Time | 2021-02-28 21:55 UT |
| Duration | ≈3.5s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From up right to down left |
| Descent Angle | 184° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | 95° |
| First azimuth | 95° |
| First elevation | 90° |
| Last azimuth | 40° |
| Last elevation | 39° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -15 |
| Color | Orange |
| Concurrent Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Unknown |
| Remarks | - |
| Delayed Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Unknown |
| Remarks | - |
| Persistent train | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Duration | 3s |
| Length | 20° |
| Remarks | It's hard to be accurate but the trails from, the break up seemed visible for a short period but the almost full moon was almost directly interfering |
| Terminal flash | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | I was driving heading almost directly towards the near-full moon. A flash illuminated the sky and appearing overhead (fortunately I have a panoramic windscreen so can see a very large part of the sky in front of me) was the just breaking up meteorite. I'd just entered the Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA) so my initial reaction was assuming it was a flare going up but once I focused properly on what was happening I could tell it was a meteorite. To be clear, the actual flash was just out of my field of view so maybe 80° above me and coming from behind. Considering the moon is very bright tonight and the sky clear, for the flash to illuminate the sky around the moon was surprising. Note, I'm ex Army and know the area well, I'm 100% certain it couldn't have been a flare. It broke up and was way too high. |
| Fragmentation | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | As above, the flash had already happened milliseconds before the object entered from the top of my windscreen directly in my eye line (with the moon in front of me). It was tightly packed and began spreading out with 2 or 3 main components and maybe a few smaller sections. I want to say at least 6 or more parts in total but it's easy for the brain to embellish so I'm a bit cautious to say so for sure. I'd liken the spread to one of those disappointing firework rockets that instead of exploding like an umbrella, fan out in the direction of travel (of course this wasn't disappointing at all!) |