Reports Report 4150bv (Event 4150-2021)
| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | J J |
| Experience Level | 2/5 |
| Remarks | I just wanted to tell you guys, bc there wasn't much about it in the local news. There were a couple of sightings posted on the Tuolumne County Incident feed FaceBook page tho... Awesome experience. This the second time I've seen a Fireball above Sonora. Both sheer luck of timing.... |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Sonora, CA |
| Latitude | 37° 59' 14.51'' N (37.987364°) |
| Longitude | 120° 24' 20.1'' W (-120.405583°) |
| Elevation | 697.17334m |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2021-07-31 00:45 PDT |
| UT Date & Time | 2021-07-31 07:45 UT |
| Duration | ≈3.5s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From down left to up right |
| Descent Angle | 79° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | 53.13° |
| First azimuth | 334.69° |
| First elevation | 23° |
| Last azimuth | 76.07° |
| Last elevation | 33° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -13 |
| Color | So many distinct colors bc it was Big, right in front of mel!! |
| Concurrent Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | Spitting, crackling as it was flaring, and when it split off a piece right before it burned out! |
| Delayed Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | Yes, a few seconds after it was gone, two distinct boom booms. Not terribly loud, but from the West where it came from. |
| Persistent train | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Unknown |
| Duration | - |
| Length | - |
| Remarks | - |
| Terminal flash | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | I was facing East looking at the Moon that had already risen above the horizon. It was late, after midnight, not sure of the exact time. When to my left was a bright light. I turned towards the the West to see what this bright light was when I realized I was seeing a Fireball streaking across the horizon, right across my line of vision going from West to East. As it was crossing in front of me I could hear it crackling and popping, and it was awash in brilliant colors. Then a smaller piece split off in the same direction and then both burnt out! IT WAS AMAZING. It was surreal, like I was watching it on the Big Screen of the World off my deck. |
| Fragmentation | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | Yes, as described above! I sat there with my mouth open, grinning in awe of what I'd just seen and could've missed so easily...I was still reveling in it, when a few seconds later I heard the distinct boom, boom, which would make sense with light traveling faster than sound, right?? I couldn't help thinking of Woody Harrelson in that movie, "2012" grinning in awe and wonder while howling like a madman as multiple Fireballs exploded around him. Seeing just one inspired awe and wonder, but no impending doom LOL!! |