Was observing comet Jacques very near the zenith when very bright object appeared in field of 15x50 IS binoculars. Was orange in color...noted to be tumbling at a rate of about one revolution per second. Beautiful vivid gray smoke trail behind...followed to horizon where turned dark orange...tail still evident. Took about 20 to 25 seconds to go from zenith to horizon, definitely slower moving than a usual meteor! Reminded one of an earth-grazing meteor; doubt a man-made object/satellite as really no marked debris trail(?). Truly spectacular through image stabilized binoculars and naked eye! Ran in to report immediately!
Location
Address
Alamogordo, NM
Latitude
32° 55' 2.71'' N (32.917419°)
Longitude
105° 57' 2.95'' W (-105.95082°)
Elevation
1338.301514m
Time and Duration
Local Date & Time
2014-09-02 22:31 MDT
UT Date & Time
2014-09-03 04:31 UT
Duration
?
Direction
Moving direction
From up to down
Descent Angle
180°
Moving
Facing azimuth
2.21°
First azimuth
2.86°
First elevation
90°
Last azimuth
3.22°
Last elevation
4°
Brightness and color
Stellar Magnitude
-5
Color
Orange
Concurrent Sound
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Delayed Sound
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Persistent train
Observation
Yes
Duration
20s
Length
30°
Remarks
Smoke trail seen through 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars emanating from an orange tumbling object smoke trail intertwining
Terminal flash
Observation
No
Remarks
-
Fragmentation
Observation
Yes
Remarks
Mostly intact from zenith to horizon with very little fragmentation
