[meteorite-list] Possible meteorite fall, WI 20 Jan 2022

[Fries, Marc D. (JSC-XI211)]

Howdy all

              AMS' meteor event 512 may have produced a fall, as there is an interesting radar signature that matches in time and place:

https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/event/2022/512

              The bolide was traveling from NE to SW according to AMS.  I've found one video of the event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3xfNG_jLlo

              Radar shows a signature at 5km AGL altitude, just west of the town of Patch Grove, WI.  I'd prefer to see signatures on multiple radars and altitudes to build confidence that we're seeing a fall, but this single sweep does look similar to those seen in previous falls.  Its' altitude probably precludes interference from birds, and it does not have the traditional shape or intensity of a reflection from an aircraft.  It is also almost exactly at the terminus end of AMS' ground track estimate.  The event does not show up in Geostationary Lightning Mapper data, and it produced a fairly weak signature in a seismometer approximately 50 miles away. All of these add up to a small meteorite fall, but probably find-able given that the terrain is mostly farmland.
              I'll draw up a NASA web page for this event, but wanted to pass on the news so you all can start talking about it.

              Fun factoid - the radar signature for this event is only 35 miles from Mifflin, WI.

Cheers,
Marc FRies
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