Years of watching the skies, this was different. The beginning travel speed and way it was going sideways more than straight down is what caught my attention so much so I had to reverse to see what it was. Once I saw the breaking up like it fell apart or exploded is when I realized it was a meteor. One I have never witnessed before.
Location
Address
Somerdale, NJ
Latitude
39° 51' 11.34'' N (39.85315°)
Longitude
75° 1' 17.75'' W (-75.021597°)
Elevation
18.499754m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time
2021-12-15 06:20 EST
UT Date & Time
2021-12-15 11:20 UT
Duration
≈3.5s
Direction
Moving direction
From down left to up right
Descent Angle
88°
Moving
Facing azimuth
46.93°
First azimuth
45.37°
First elevation
48°
Last azimuth
110.93°
Last elevation
21°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude
-11
Color
Orange
Concurrent Sound
Observation
Unknown
Remarks
-
Delayed Sound
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Persistent train
Observation
Yes
Duration
3s
Length
-
Remarks
Long bright orange tail, I'm familiar with meteors in showers and this was different slower moving. I pulled in reverse to keep eyes on it until it broke apart.
Terminal flash
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Fragmentation
Observation
Yes
Remarks
Once lower to ground, it broke apart. Trail started as bold and bright orange, then broke apart to spots. Like whatever it was exploded and broke into pieces.
