Fireball report

Reports Report 3434ox (Event 3434-2013)

Observer
Name	Paul M
Experience Level	3/5
Remarks	I think it may have been space junk not only by the color and how it broke up, but it appeared to be on a vector, which would match something launched in a polar orbit.

Location
Address	Central City, NE
Latitude	41° 3' 37.47'' N (41.060408°)
Longitude	98° 5' 40.23'' W (-98.094508°)
Elevation	530.340332m

Time and Duration
Local Date & Time	2013-12-26 17:30 CST
UT Date & Time	2013-12-26 23:30 UT
Duration	≈7.5s

Direction
Moving direction	From right to left
Descent Angle	270°

Moving
Facing azimuth	50.62°
First azimuth	64.6°
First elevation	20°
Last azimuth	43.08°
Last elevation	20°

Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude	-6
Color	Light Blue, Green, 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	The sky was about 30 minutes post sunset, still light, but brighter stars like betelgeuse were visible. It started off looking like a pair of blue - blue-green lights. It looked very much like a small plane turning, lining up for final approach at the Central City Airport. It then brightened to a single fireball, changed briefly to a greenish color, like copper burning in a firework, then it started to break up into smaller chunks and the brightness quickly faded from view. To me it looked like a piece of space junk breaking up. It lasted long enough to point it out to my wife, who also saw it.

Fragmentation

Observation

Yes

Remarks

The sky was about 30 minutes post sunset, still light, but brighter stars like betelgeuse were visible. It started off looking like a pair of blue - blue-green lights. It looked very much like a small plane turning, lining up for final approach at the Central City Airport. It then brightened to a single fireball, changed briefly to a greenish color, like copper burning in a firework, then it started to break up into smaller chunks and the brightness quickly faded from view. To me it looked like a piece of space junk breaking up. It lasted long enough to point it out to my wife, who also saw it.