Comments on: Massive Fireball Falls Toward Earth in Canada

By: Meteor

Meteor — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:27:53 +0000

Jim,

Thanks for the comment, I try to answer them all, but sometimes they slip through my view just like a lone meteor on a dark night. Here is an answer:

Millions of particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere each day. Some are visible and some are not. Some are reported and some are not.

You may find that by posting here, people who witnessed the same event may be searching for the same event, however, consider yourself lucky, you witnessed an uncommon event called a “fireball.” You may find the glossary on this site interesting, please check it out and let me know if there is any other questions you may have.

You can bookmark the site and check back with me. Each month I post the next meteor shower, fun facts about meteors, etc.

It is always a pleasure to share my knowledge.

Keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

By: jim flibott

jim flibott — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:29:23 +0000

Hey Meteor Mark, I thought this was just an open chat site, I didn’t realize you are the host. Bravo to you!
I’m waiting for a reply to my comments #9 on Feb.16,2009.
Thank you,
Jim F

By: Jim F

Jim F — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:47:33 +0000

It was the first week of January when we were traveling East on I-10 along the panhandle of northern Florida between 7-9:00 pm. We saw something, like a ball of fire falling from the sky with a trail. It was falling very slow compared to what I know as a falling star. It was ENE of the way we were traveling.
Did anyone else see this? or do you know of a Web site were I should look for answers.
Jim F

By: Meteor

Meteor — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:20:37 +0000

Angel,

Yes indeed it does sound like you saw a fireball. They are very rare, consider yourself lucky to have witnessed it!

Bookmark the site I may have some surprises coming for next month.

Thanks for the comment.

- Meteor Mark

By: Angel

Angel — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:17:08 +0000

I live in Putney, VT and saw the most spectacular thing last Thursday night (11/20) around 5:30. From what I’m reading here, it appears I may have seen a fireball. It was running from NW to SE just below Orion and at first, I thought it was my neighbor with an errant bottle rocket but it was much larger and then fizzled out. I stood there in my driveway for a few more minutes waiting to see more but didn’t. I kept reading the local papers to see if anyone else saw it and it wasn’t until I saw the footage on television about the fireball in Canada that I had a clue as to what this may have been. It was truly amazing!

By: Brooke

Brooke — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:24:39 +0000

I live in Southeast Kansas and saw this marvelous thing as well. I was actually scared that it was an airplane or something and called our local police department. . I just know that I want to see it again. I am very interested now.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:48:08 +0000

We saw exactly what Dee is describing up here in New Hampshire Saturday night heading from southwest to northeast. At first we thought it was the ISS or another satellite, but as it got closer to the horizon it turned green and faded away.

By: Frank

Frank — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:36:39 +0000

Dee I live in central Oklahoma and during a football game I seen the same thing. It was very slow with blue and green flame, it was amazing. I thought it was a firework.

By: Meteor

Meteor — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:54:25 +0000

Dee,

This event occurred on November 20th and could be seen from about 435 miles away.

What you are describing is not a normal “shooting star” (meteor) it sounds like you may have seen a fireball or bolide.

Meteoroids are entering our atmosphere at speeds of near 100,000 mph in some cases. Upon entering the atmosphere the event you see is called a meteor.

In your case it seems you may have seen a larger piece of space rock (meteoroid) enter the atmosphere and create a fireball.

Believe it or not even a rock the size of an apple could create a spectacular display in the sky like you saw. Most objects that enter our atmosphere don’t make it to Earth. The ram pressure created from our atmosphere disintegrates them.

Occasionally they do and the fireball that recently was seen in Canada may have touched down, but we are still all awaiting the news when and if someone will find it.

What you saw sounds marvelous, bookmark the site and check with me each month. I will give you an idea of when your best chance to see some more is each month. Thanks for your comment.

Keep your head up.

- Meteor Mark

By: Dee

Dee — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:56:47 +0000

Is it possible to have seen this from northwest Arkansas, USA? Last night towards 8pm central standard time I saw what appeared to be the biggest, slowest shooting star that I’ve ever seen…I was looking in a west direction. I would not call it the west sky though, because it appeared to be falling from straight above. It was bright, had a bright steak with a ball that almost appeared fire-like with sparks. I was also in my car(passenger) driving around 20 miles per hour(if this makes a difference). I actually just made my husband go walk around the field behind us-to look for naything out of the ordinary. We found nothing. It is hard to tell if anything is there because there is also a wooded ravine near the area. Could this just be an ordinary shooting star and I happened to be very close? Or what could it be? It was so amazing that I actually yelled!

By: Tosk

Tosk — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:01:34 +0000

Hi just wanted to post this video i found on a Canadian news site. Video Link