Open AccessA very public fireball
Author(s) -
Bridges J C,
Schwanethal J P,
Paton M D,
Pearson V K,
Greenwood R C,
Watson J S,
Morgan G H
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
astronomy & geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.168
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1468-4004
pISSN - 1366-8781
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-4004.2003.45625.x
Subject(s) - comet , eccentricity (behavior) , asteroid , azimuth , trajectory , orbit (dynamics) , physics , astronomy , planet , geology , astrobiology , meteorology , astrophysics , aerospace engineering , political science , engineering , law
An appeal for witnesses to a fireball on 24 September produced an excellent response from the public; 55 eyewitnesses sent accounts. From their observations we calculated the radiant azimuth as 320°, and altitude angle ≤ 20°. Without video or CCTV footage for control on the fireball's velocity or pre-entry orbit, we used software developed for dust impact experiments, to assess the most likely orb...