Report phenomena?

[hjb19465]

I'm a fledgeling astronomer living NW of Atlanta, GA. My wife and I saw a fireball tonight (obviously part of the Geminids show) which sparked an internet search for info about meteroids. We wanted to know how big the "rock" might have been. As I searched, I discovered that Green Fireballs are extremely unique and even historically troublesome. Well, this fireball we saw was very much green. So after all that, who would I contact if I wanted to report this sighting? Thanks!!

 

[qso1]

I'd start with the university nearest you and contact their astronomy department for further contact info. There are web resources you can probably Google, I'm just not aware of the URLs etc. <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>

 

[adrenalynn]

You'll need a very exact time and the more exact you can pin the location down (at least what constellation), the better.<br /><br />Then have a look here: http://www.imo.net/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I have found this to be the best current place to report fireballs. Here's the form.<br /> American Meteor Society <br /><br />You are assuming that the fireball you saw was a Geminid; that may not be true. <br />Can you describe the direction it appeared in the sky? Start, and end directions and height? Time you observed it?<br /><br />Then we can clear that up.<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>

 

[adrenalynn]

MeteorWayne is the resident meteor expert, so I'd go with his post. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[hjb19465]

I'm pretty confident of it being Geminid. It was heading near vertical to the horizon, the radiant seemed to be somewhere near Mars/ Gemini. B/c of it's near vertical path, I'd place the azimuth beginning and ending at SSE of Acworth, GA. This was at roughly 9:30pm EDT. <br /><br />I reported it at IMO earlier today...I'll report it at the AMS this evening.<br /><br />

 

[MeteorWayne]

Based on your description (and knowledge of) the radiant, sounds like a GEM to me <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />There are 2 other radiants withing 15 degrees (Both in Gemini near Mars), though, so it's not 100% guaranteed. <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>

 

[adrenalynn]

[quick aside]<br /><br />Have a look at my shot this morning, Wayne, let me know what you think?<br /><br />DonkeyShin! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>