Meteor sighting

[davf]

I was on the road from Toronto to Ottawa tonight and was surprised to see a meteor streak by overhead. The time of sighting was approx. 9:03pm eastern, travelled from west to east, and was observed coming out from behind clouds from about 45 degrees above the horizon to approx. 20 degrees. It was bright enough to easily catch my attention on a hazy night while driving on a highway with the attendant crappy ambient lighting... at least as bright as the two or three other stars that were barely visible. <br /><br />Anyone else see it?

 

[MeteorWayne]

I'll check and see if there are any reports.<br /><br />I'm too far away in NJ to have seen it<br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[davf]

Cool! Thanks! Looking forward to it.

 

[qso1]

Not suprising to me. I have seen quite a bit more in my lifetime than I originally ever thought I would. Meteorites are quite common and although brighter ones are less common, if one looks at the sky enough, and/or at the right time, one will see a bright meteorite streak by. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[davf]

Agreed. I have seen many and hardly a good night while camping goes by without seeing one or two. Fewer and fewer can burn through the increasing light polution where I live, though. I've only seen one other that was comparable to this in brightness.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Just a technicality here <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />Up there (when we see it lit up in the atmosphere) it's a meteor.<br />In space it's a meteoroid.<br />If it makes it to the ground, then it's a meteorite.<br /><br />The Geminids (which began last night) peak next Thursday morning (for North America) and under dark skies can produce 120 an hour (that was my rate in 2004), or an average of 2 per minute.<br /><br />This time of year also has the highest rates of sporadic (those not associated with a specific shower) meteors, and although they are skewed more toward fainter than shower members, can still give 5 an hour in the evening and more than 10 in the morning.<br />There are also 2 other minor showers active right now that can add 1 or 2 per hour.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Nothing so far, but sometimes it takes a day or so for reports to trickle in, unless it's really spectacular...then it takes minutes <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> . <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[sphynx]

davf dixit:<br />"at least as bright as the two or three other stars that were barely visible."<br />Sphynx said:<br />Do not forget that the satelites Iridium are very brilliant. <br />Greetings of Argentina<br />Sphynx<br />http://www.satobs.org/iridium.html<br />

 

[davf]

Good thought about Iridium. I should have put in a comment about the speed... it covered the forementioned arc in roughly 1 second.... perhaps 2 tops which I figure was far too fast for an Iridium flare... certainly much faster than the two I've seen.<br /><br />Nice picture, btw! Did you take it?<br />