15 April 2011

California NROL-34 Atlas V Rocket Launch NOT Meteor Vandenburg AFB 14APR2011

California NROL-34, Atlas V Launch from Vandenburg AFB
NOT Meteor Fireball Event ~9:30 pm PDT 14APR2011


Goleta California  9:25 pm 4-14-2011
Hi,  I just came across your blog searching the  web just wondering if anyone had seen what I just had. My husband and I saw a bright burning flame ease its way across the sky. It looked like there were flames trailing it it was a bright amber color in the beginning and then as it faded became more white even blue/greenish until it seemingly burnt out leaving our sight with two bright flashes. It did not shoot fast across the sky like most other "Shooting Stars" but rather glided through the air for about 2 whole minutes spanning almost a 180 degree eyeshot. Anyways, it was magical and amazing and I've never seen anything like it, and thought that you people/experts might know more about what it was. viewed in Goleta California 4-14-2011 9:25 pm Thanks!
-Meagan F Thank you Meagan for the first report!


Studio City, CA 19604. Saw it around 9:45pm PDT from Studio City, CA 19604.
Sitting on condo porch looking southward. Watched object travel from West to East. Color appeared to be orangish. Small spherical object in center with a halo of same color favoring the leading edge. No trail otherwise. Watched object for 5 to 7 seconds, then it disappeared in the clouds, but reappeared for 1 or 2 seconds before vanishing entirely.
Scott


Port Hueneme, California event 9:30 PM, 14 APRIL 2011
Did not see the event, but my home In Port Hueneme was rock by a sonic boom like explosion. The whole neighborhood came out to the streets to investigate with no visual result. John S.


Laguna Beach, CA Orange Red Fireball 9:30pm(PDT)
My brother and I were at the beach tonight in Laguna Beach, CA; we witnessed a orange and red fireball starting on the far right hand side of the horizon rise toward the left in a large arch, ending a little on the our left as we were facing straight west toward the ocean. It rose steadily and shook visibly at times until it got to its brightest point and fishtailed so we could see two tails as it burned off. The entire thing lasted approximately 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes, and occured around 9:30pm(PST). We would love to know more about what it was we witnessed and are very excited to hear back.
CJ


Bakersfield, CA
I think it was around 9:30pm as I was walking out to my car facing south. I looked up into the sky, and from the West I saw a huge red "star" at first glance. At second glance, it appeared to be MOVING and became a more deep red color. Then it grew a tail that became a little longer over the long seconds. It was slow moving and glided across the sky just south of the moon. My boyfriend and I watched in amazement and tried to record it but our phones were unable to capture it clearly. It was slow moving and began to fade, as did the tail, then disappeared into a cloud. Then there were a few bright glares and it was gone. We thought it was a comet, but we're still not sure. Amazing to witness! -Raianna

Coronado, California 9:25 pm 4/14/11
I was walking around town when i saw an orange object going across the sky with an extremely wide amber/peachish colored trail behind it going from west to east, i only saw it for a brief period of time, it was gone by the time i hit the camera function on my phone, and when it disappeared, a few seconds later it reappeared for a second without the trail and disapeared completely. - Dan Smith

Santa Barbara, CA
Tonight, I witnessed something beautiful.
In the southern sky off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA, an orange ball of light began descending. It was large. So large my body reacted in fear, while my mind reacted in wonder.
It lasted no more than fifteen seconds. Or maybe slighty more, I don't remember.
This thing existed, from the point of view of at least one observer. Confirmation would be nice.
Sincerely, An observer - David

Los Angles, CA
Yes, my fiancee and I were driving into los angeles and I saw a red streak across the sky, i t looked like darth vaders light saber, it was bright, then it looked like plane lights for a second, the the tail came back fatter and cloudier, then it dissaperred and reappered and then finally it was gone, one of the coolest things I've ever seen in the night sky!!!! -Keyonne

Palm Desert, CA 
Glad to see I'm not the only one who witnessed this incredible event! I observed what I would describe as a bright orangish red shooting star travel from west to east in the southern sky viewing from my location in Palm Desert, CA the time was 9:28 PM PDST. The object seemed to be moving slower than any meteor I have ever seen, and it seemed to have a plume or glowing field around it. Its trajectory was very horizontal and it dissipated and seemed to reappear a few seconds later in a few red flashes and that was it. - N.T

Chula Vista CA
9:30 pm -Chris f.


Descanso, Ca 
Hello, I came across this site and saw exactly what was described already. I live in Descanso, Ca (San Diego East County). My girlfriend and I both saw a slow moving, amber/redish object with a fading tail behind it. after watching it travel nearly 180 degrees across the sky it disappeared and then seemed to burst into red before disappearing completely. The entire event took nearly two minutes and had no sound. it was nothing like any falling star we have ever seen before! -Ethan

Carlsbad, CA
I live in Carlsbad, around 9:30 pm while walking my dog I saw a bright red and black ball in the sky, to the right of the moon and starting around the middle of the skyline, looked like it was traveling southwest. The red and black ball was surrounded by red/orange/white "flames" (for a lack of a better of describing it) that made a cone line shape around the ball. The ball itself was much larger than a standard airplane in the sky (maybe 5-6 combined) and the flames were incredibly long, I can't accurately describe how long, but it felt like you could play connect the dots with the stars. It lasted maybe 10-15 seconds, seemed to extinguish, then reappeared farther along it's path. The ball was a deeper red, and the flames a darker orange and much shorter in length. It then extinguished completely after maybe 3-5 seconds.
I've read some reports of a boom and shaking thereafter, but didn't hear or feel either. However, it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. -Sasja Tse

Santa Barbara, CA
I was walking toward my house north, when I look up over my roof, and I said to myself that a bright colored street light, I took maybe one more step, and came back outside, and I said thats a comet, first one I ever saw. It was a wonderful orange color and it was moving maybe southwest, I called my soon to brother in law, and we watch it together, I wanna say for a minute, but it felt like 10 minutes. It had a long trail, we cross the street, because my street has big trees, and finally it got dimmer and dimmer and disappered. Maybe a half hour ago. Awesome! -Gregory M.

Santa Barbara, CA
Hello, we witnessed the large fireball. We did not see it until it was between the horizon and regulus( around Hyrda). It had 3 trails. In the beginning while it was moving it had no trail, stopped moving when it developed more trails blew up into white flames and disappeared. After it disappeared we thought we saw a red color re-appear then disappear again. If you find the meteorite would you let us look at it? Good luck! -Amanda and Nick

Southern CA, Simi valley
Approx 45 mins ago from the time stamp of this e-mail to you.
Location: Southern CA, Simi valley.
Sound only. Though may have been aircraft, no reasonable answer as only commercial aircraft pass by, less than sound barrier. Ciao. -GPHESQ

castle park high
Hey, i was looking for pictures of what i witness to one of a lifetime event
after doing my running exercise at castle park high on my way home
something caught my eye on the sky, i did not know what to think at first because i had never seen anything like it my first thought that it was a UFO after i just stood in shook to see that a bright C shaped amber burned the sky across my very eyes after a long 10 second going north to south, i was fasing westward what looked to be a supersonic blast, it dissapeared for two whole seconds reapeared smaller burning then dissapeared on the very sky im glad i could witness what i did not know what was going to happen this very day - Chris F.

Santa Barbara, CA. 
Time was from about 9:24 to 9:29 pm. Viewed from Hwy 101N just north of Santa Barbara, CA. Saw large yellow/orange light moving from approximate NNE to SSW. Largish fireball with a large profile and tail turned to bright white with a much smaller profile and thinning white tail to tail-less smaller object then towards the end of the event a white plume/halo appeared to the forefront of the object. Moments later it was all but gone. It left a large, (assuming high altitude) scattered con trail to the NNE as well...
-C.Dog.

Manhattan Beach, California
Hello, around 9:25 PM I saw a large fireball heading south/south east.
It was visible for over a minute. It was slow moving and at first I thought it was an airplane that was taking the turn east like other planes just taking off from LAX. Except that it was bright orange. It then headed southeast over land and finally appeared to burn out over the South Bay/Palos Verdes area. Very bright and beautiful. -Jack

Disneyland, CA 
Was south in sky. 3/8inch to the eye. Traveled right to left in sky
Had a "C" shape. With the center of the back of the c the head end
Saw orange and red only on the edges of the c. Center was void of colors. Moved very slow. Came in and out of being visible. Glad others saw it. We thought it was a.plane flying backwards.
-Phil

Creston, CA Not sure how to use your site. Saw the same bright lights described by Megan F in Goleta. My location is in Creston in northern San Luis Obispo County. It moved and brightened/dimmed exactly as she reported. Seemed to be in the sky for at least 1 minute perhaps 2. At first it seemed to be stationery but then, on further looking I think it was always moving from west to east at a slow speed. Appeared to be approximately 20 to 30 degrees above our horizon (we see hills to south so this may not be an accurate measure of its actual angle from our position.) Interesting phenomenon. -Jim M.
-------------------
Dena Lachance Piquette: 9:30pm 11-14-11 Huge, slow moving, red fireball with a long red tail! I ran in to get my daughter & she saw it with a white tail before it went out. I've never seen anything like that before! SO AWESOME!

Guest227 (guest): 9:30pst, 4/14/2011 Los Angeles,Ca. Huge,slow moving red ball with a bright fire orange fantail. Went out for 1-2 secs.came back on in a bright orange fireball.heading west to east.

Guest862 (guest): Los Angeles. Came from the NW to SE. 9:35 PST. Looked like a missile at first because it was so bright and fireball like. Then dimmed for about 20-25 seconds. Then brightened up again and disappeared.

Guest786 (guest): I saw the same thing did you see the jets that was following it?

Guest862 (guest): Na.I noticed a plane a little after it burned up but thats it. Just watched battle:la so i was prepared for anything. lol.

Guest227 (guest): I saw a jet going in opposite direction

Guest786 (guest):Right after this had happen i noticed the traffic of comercial planes where not to be seen for 20 mins after

Guest862 (guest):From my vantage point it crossed a planes path leaving lax. but it was probably way up higher.

Guest786 (guest): ok it was a rocket that lest Van. CA

Guest231 (guest): It was west and south of us and was moving slowly toward the east. It was orange and was wide from side to side (like from wing tip to wing tip of a plane) but trailed out the entire length.It looked like a comb that had been melted to the shape of a boomerang, with the leading edge a solid line and the trailing teeth wispy following.It glowed orangish.The light when out for a couple of seconds,then flashed once again, then nothing more.

Guest524 (guest): I'm in Lake Elsinore and I saw it!

Guest482 (guest):South Orange County, CA, around 9:15-9:30pm Apr 14,2011. Three of us saw what we first thought was a plane on fire with glowing contrails. It looked like a typical comet shape, and changed colors before fizzing out, but then there was a small after burn, much like a firework. It was the most magical celestial event I've seen in my life. -LR

Guest680 (guest): My husband and I saw a huge comet I guess .. Over Santa Barbara as we were driving north on the 101 at about a little past 9pm ... It looked increadie and very scary! lol any one else see it?

oscar (guest): hi i just saw around 9.45 p m the same asteroids was in clear sky here in palmdale CA i saw it for a minute and then disappeared with a explosion

villafana1: Around 9:45 In the City of Santa Barbara, Ca.Like cuple of miles on top of us, Miguel Ramirez. I forgot to add, it was like a flame, when my girlfriend and my 3 year old nice saw it,from one side of the truck looked as a flame them infrom of us, we clearly say the tail redish as it traveled then it became a blue,yellow probrably was the view from the back, it was amasing, I berely could see the one tail I was looking for the other one, incredible.

Guest883 (guest):April 14 on Pine Springs Ranch at around 9:45
I was able to see it for about 10 sec. then exploded. reddish glow came back a few seconds later

----
Santa Barbara, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for sky object falling April 14, 2011.
13:43:48 -- 7 seconds ago
       
Ontario, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: California Large Green Meteor Fireball 5APR2011" by searching for california meterite 2011.
13:43:31 -- 24 seconds ago
       
Santa Barbara, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for meteor santa barbara april 14 2011.
13:43:23 -- 31 seconds ago



Los Angeles, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: Roseville/Sacramento CA Meteor? 9:45pm PST 4APR2011".
13:43:01 -- 53 seconds ago
       
Encino, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for fireball in the sky april 14, 2011.
13:42:20 -- 1 minute ago
       
Upland, California left via amsmeteors.org from "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News"
13:41:58 -- 1 minute ago
       
Marina Del Rey, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for flames in the sky near santa barbara 14 april.
13:41:29 -- 2 minutes ago



Upland, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for meteorite april 14, 2011.
13:41:12 -- 2 minutes ago
       
Azusa, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for april 14th 2011 light across the sky.
13:41:08 -- 2 minutes ago
       
Whittier, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: Breaking News- Meteor/Meteorite News Internet Traffic Indicates Possible Meteors 19JAN2011 20JAN2011" by searching for what is that arge white trail in the sky tonight.
13:41:08 -- 2 minutes ago



Beverly Hills, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for pictures of meterorite falling from sky.
13:40:06 -- 3 minutes ago
       
La Mirada, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for comet across california sky april 14, 2011.
13:39:57 -- 3 minutes ago



Glendora, California arrived from search.yahoo.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: Breaking News- Fireball in Baltimore MD & York PA - Nov 12, 2010 Meteor/Meteorite News 13NOV2010" by searching for breaking news meteorite.
13:39:06 -- 4 minutes ago
       
Los Angeles, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for april 14 meteor explosion.
13:39:00 -- 4 minutes ago
       
Apple Valley, California arrived from search.yahoo.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: Southern California Meteor Event 10SEP2010 11SEP2010" by searching for Meteor over southern calif.
13:39:00 -- 4 minutes ago
       
Whittier, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: California Meteor 14MAR2011" by searching for meteor over Los Angeles.
13:38:14 -- 5 minutes ago
       
Ontario, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for i just seen an asteroid tonight april 14.
13:38:08 -- 5 minutes ago
       
Lomita, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for meteor april 14th 2011.
13:38:07 -- 5 minutes ago



Palos Verdes Peninsula, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for comet sighting today april 14th 2011.
13:38:04 -- 5 minutes ago



Hacienda Heights, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for comet meteor sighting los angeles 2011.
13:37:41 -- 6 minutes ago
       
Canyon Country, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for meteor 4-13-2011.
13:37:32 -- 6 minutes ago
       
Moreno Valley, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: The Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News 5APR2011 News With Lots of Ketchup" by searching for meteor recent news.
13:37:27 -- 6 minutes ago
       
Canyon Country, California arrived on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: California Meteor 14MAR2011".
13:37:14 -- 6 minutes ago
       
Fontana, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for meteor in la, april 14.
13:37:13 -- 6 minutes ago
       
Palm Desert, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for asteroid april 14 2011.
13:36:50 -- 7 minutes ago
       
Los Angeles, California arrived from lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News".
13:36:29 -- 7 minutes ago
       
Cypress, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: Los Angeles, CA Meteor 29MAR2011" by searching for meteorite los angeles.
13:36:23 -- 7 minutes ago
       
Cerritos, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: California Large Green Meteor Fireball 5APR2011" by searching for shooting star california news.
13:36:11 -- 7 minutes ago
       
Murrieta, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for southern california meteor showers april 14, 2011.
13:35:13 -- 8 minutes ago
       
La Mesa, California arrived from webcache.googleusercontent.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News".
13:34:53 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Santa Barbara, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: Goodman, Mississippi Bright Green Meteor Fireball 14APR2011" by searching for meteor april 14 2011.
13:34:52 -- 9 minutes ago



Corona, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: Ireland Meteor 8.30pm GMT 1MAR2011" by searching for meteorite 5 gmt.
13:34:41 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Calabasas, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: California Large Green Meteor Fireball 5APR2011" by searching for large shooting star Los angeles.
13:34:32 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Colton, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: California Meteor 14MAR2011" by searching for meteor in california 2011.
13:34:16 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Rosemead, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for april 14 2011 space night meteor.
13:34:14 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Torrance, California left via 4.bp.blogspot.com from "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News"
13:34:13 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Los Angeles, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: California Large Green Meteor Fireball 5APR2011" by searching for fireball meteorite Los Angeles.
13:34:09 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Santa Barbara, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for california asteroid april 14 2011.
13:34:02 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Los Angeles, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News: CA and TX Meteors Reported 1FEB2011 Meteor/Meteorite News 2FEB2011" by searching for meteor over Los Angeles 9:20 April 14.
13:33:55 -- 9 minutes ago
       
Simi Valley, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for meteor sighting today.
13:33:49 -- 10 minutes ago
       
Torrance, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for meteor sighting today.
13:33:25 -- 10 minutes ago
       
Mountain View, California arrived from google.com on "Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News" by searching for meteor santa barbara sky Apr 14, 2011.
13:33:19 -- 10 minutes ago

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

935 pst object was south of Disneyland ca, heading SE. Spent a long time as a dimm red object that grew a long orange tail for about 35 secs then slowly grew to a wide white tail that grew pretty bright then popped with a two flashed then dark. Didn't seem to be losing losing velocity nor did it change in path. seemed to cross about 3 inches of sky per 15 seconds.

H4rdc0r3 said...

sometime between 9:20pm-9:25pm (San Diego) I saw what I first thought was a plane because it was moving too slow to be a shooting star.. but then I realized it was totally on fire and looked like it was almost going up from where I was standing. It was brighter than any star in the sky! It seemed like it was there for 10 seconds then it burned out, and re-appeared 2 seconds later. My friend saw it too!

Anonymous said...

thanks for comments. Meaghan from Goleta CA who posted at 9:25pm April 14 2011, did you hear any sounds, or did anyone else? We live nearby and we turned off the tube because we heard what sounded like fireworks in the distance; they popped rapidly and erratically for a few minutes with some irregular gaps in between. Could it have been naval weapons maneuvers offshore? No one else who saw the event in the sky mentioned that they heard any sounds, but there is no listing online for any fireworks scheduled for tonight locally. thanks

Anonymous said...

I was traveling on my bike to the Huntington Beach pier when I happened to look up and I saw what looked like an orange light/fireball travelling across the sky. It faded out then shone again before disappearing. I noticed it was about 9:30 p.m., maybe a minute or two earlier than that. I have never seen anything like it! Glad to know I'm not the only one who noticed this....Would like to find out more information!

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure exactly how to use this site, but I found this comment box. I didn't see a meteor, however, I did see two HUGE streaks across the sky just a bit ago that the only thing I can think they may have been caused by is something skimming our atmosphere or something. I can't find any info about it yet though, and I stumbled on this site looking for something about it. Has anyone seen or reported anything? This was maybe 20-30 minutes ago that I saw this.