| Observer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Christina D |
| Experience Level | 2/5 |
| Remarks | I am not a trained observer but have an excellent memory and attention for detail. I also used an iPhone compass to provide an approximate direction. And will describe the event to the best of my ability. While facing 353 degrees North I happened to glance forward, slightly up and to the right, from under the porch awning in a seated position. 20 degrees North. It was partly cloudy but enough to obscure all stars. Just as I looked at the sky, a white light so bright it looked blue (like the colors on match flame) in a very spherical shape dropped below the cloud cover. It appeared to elongate and form a tail. This is when it flared up twice as bright and the end tip of the tail looked as if it broke off. This second piece followed behind just enough to form a space between both objects. The fragment formed a tail of its own and followed the same path as the first. It was moving from south to north. Like it would have been behind me moving over and in front of me. Because of the illumination against the clouds it looked to be descending while maintaining a horizontal plane. The first ball winked out followed by the other maybe a second later. I firmly believe this could not have been lightning. Its been about 2 1/2 hours since I witnessed this event. The sky is now clear and I can see Mars setting in the west. Please contact me with any questions. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Phoenix, AZ |
| Latitude | 33° 17' 8.52'' N (33.2857°) |
| Longitude | 112° 8' 38.4'' E (112.144°) |
| Elevation | - |
| Time and Duration | |
|---|---|
| Local Date & Time | 2014-04-26 02:00 CST |
| UT Date & Time | 2014-04-25 18:00 UT |
| Duration | ≈3.5s |
| Direction | |
|---|---|
| Moving direction | From up to down |
| Descent Angle | 180° |
| Moving | |
|---|---|
| Facing azimuth | - |
| First azimuth | - |
| First elevation | 45° |
| Last azimuth | - |
| Last elevation | 45° |
| Brightness and color | |
|---|---|
| Stellar Magnitude | -13 |
| Color | White Blue |
| Concurrent Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Delayed Sound | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Unknown |
| Remarks | - |
| Persistent train | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Duration | 3s |
| Length | 5° |
| Remarks | The ball looked as if it elongated into s glowing train |
| Terminal flash | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | The ball elongated and gave the impression of a tail. The tail seemed to break off at the tip and another smaller ball lagged behind just enough to allow a space between it and the tail. When this happened it was a white blue and the color intensified to a bright white when it fragmented. The smaller piece formed a tail too. |
| Fragmentation | |
|---|---|
| Observation | Yes |
| Remarks | The ball elongated and gave the impression of a tail. The tail seemed to break off at the tip and another smaller ball lagged behind just enough to allow a space between it and the tail. When this happened it was a white blue and the color intensified to a bright white when it fragmented. The smaller piece formed a tail too. |