Reports Report 4788m (Event 4788-2025)
| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nick H |
| Experience Level | 3/5 |
| Remarks | My impression is this was a meteor/fireball, de-orbiting space junk from a satellite, or launch debris. While the Perseid meteor shower is due later this week, this was clearly a large, relatively slow-moving streak that crossed directly over the interstate from East to West, and I saw several pieces break off from it. There was a brief flash, and the object itself was very bright, and pale blue in color. The visual effect caused several other cars traveling North to slow during the 5-10 seconds it appeared over the tree canopy. One possible explanation could be some kind of flare or firework, but like nothing that I've seen before. I did not record the exact mile-marker on I-89 N, but the event occurred approximately .2 miles from a highway sign that indicated Northfield was 16 miles away. There was also a full moon rising roughly South-Southwest in the sky at 35+ degrees in height, well outside of my field of view heading North. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Randolph, VT |
| Latitude | 43° 57' 13.53'' N (43.953757°) |
| Longitude | 72° 37' 17.28'' W (-72.621468°) |
| Elevation | 349.647278m |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2025-08-09 21:25 EDT |
| UT Date & Time | 2025-08-10 01:25 UT |
| Duration | ≈7.5s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From up right to down left |
| Descent Angle | 230° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | 350.85° |
| First azimuth | 350.87° |
| First elevation | 45° |
| Last azimuth | 351.6° |
| Last elevation | 32° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -16 |
| Color | Light Blue, White |
| 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 | Several small, bright pieces seemed to break off of the main object - these fell at a steep, downward angle and appeared like droplets of blue liquid fire/fuel or pitch dripping in a campfire flame |