[meteorite-list] Huge Fireball: Possible First Meteorite Fall of 2011

[Meteorites USA]

UPDATE: I've added another map to the mess. ;)

Don't really have time to do anything with this, those who can use it 
here it is. Marc Fries' radar data is plotted on the map, 
http://radarmeteorites.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/southern-ms-12-jan-11-0244-utc/ 
and I credit him for his work. Nice job! An interesting note is that I 
conducted 2 phone interviews with two eye witnesses a day or so before 
Marc posted his radar data.When I plotted their reports on the map, they 
"roughly" pointed in the same general area as the radar return with 
regard to their sighting direction and flight path of the fireball. The 
witness North of Pickens AR reported massive fragmentation, and the 
witness in MS stated they saw no fragmentation and that the fireball 
appeared to fall all the way to the ground. Not sure if 20 miles would 
make the difference between seeing the fragmentation or not, but the MS 
witness was 241 miles from Marc's radar return, whereas, the Pickens AR 
witness was 221 miles away. (this assuming the radar return is the 
bolide event) It's possible that the small differentiation between the 
distances from the fireball event and the curvature of the Earth allowed 
the AR witness to see the fragmentation, whereas the MS witness was 
unable to see it because their view was obscured by the horizon. A lot 
of things need to be considered like the altitude, the timing of the 
sighting, the height/altitude of each witness. Either way, it's 
interesting.

Let me make this disclaimer. This is only a rough estimate based on 
compiled information, sonic boon reports, fireball sighting reports, 
radar, and phone interviews. Use this info at your own risk. Video is 
basically useless, and I've not yet plotted ANY video on this map. I've 
heard of some CNN video, and other video which actually shows the 
fireball in the air, but have only seen one. Anyone wanting to help let 
me know. I'll plot it when I get time.

Enjoy...

Happy Hunting!

Regards,
Eric




On 1/12/2011 12:20 AM, Meteorites USA wrote:
> You know, sometimes it's just too good to be true... What are the 
> chances a meteorite falls on 1/11/11 just a mere couple weeks before 
> the Tucson show? ;)
>
> We might have our first meteorite fall of 2011. Too many reports of 
> fragmentation and sonic booms for it not to be. Looks like this might 
> be the real deal.
>
> Here's some quotes from the articles:
>
> "A sonic boom was heard as far north as Western North Carolina..."
>
> "...Copiah County Emergency Management Director Randle Drane said 
> residents who saw the light and heard a subsequent boom called to 
> report what they had seen or heard. The majority of those who heard 
> the boom were near the town of Hopewell just southeast of Crystal 
> Springs...."
>
> "...Little Rock, Ark. Around 8:30 p.m. we began receiving calls about 
> a bright flash of light and a boom..."
>
> "...Around 9 PM Tuesday, the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office received 
> several calls of what looked like balls of fire falling from the sky...."
>
> "...According to affiliate KFSM, the meteor was also sighted in 
> Greenwood, Jonesboro, Jackson, Miss., Biloxi, Miss., and the Florida 
> Panhandle...."
>
> Reports still coming in...
>
> Regards,
> Eric Wichman
> Meteorites USA
> www.meteoritesusa.com
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