The Latest Worldwide Meteor/Meteorite News 30NOV2010

Ireland Meteor News Continues TOP Interest

Knocknacarra eyewitnesses urged to help find meteorite
Galway News
Curiously, it was same time as the details of the bailout were announced and the same date in 1999 when the last meteorite definitely landed on the country. ... (Ireland meteorite 28NOV2010)

'Fireball' lights up NI sky ‎ (Ireland) BBC News - 5 hours ago ... be able to establish what the object's original orbit in the solar system might have been and whether it was part of a previously known meteor shower.

Regional round-up reports from around the country
Irish Times -
WEST: A METEORITE was sighted shooting over Galway last night as air temperatures fell to -6 degrees. The fireball was spotted by several people in the ... (Ireland meteor 28NOV2010)

Armagh Observatory
The Armagh Observatory received 26 fireball reports last night and early this morning, reporting a slow east-west moving fireball occurring around 17:45 UTC last night (Nov 28, 2010) north of the island of Ireland. ...The reports, here: http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/cgi-bin/fireballs/browse.pl


Other News:
elp: Meteor News...Brighter than Moon...Meteor Lights Up East ...
By El Paso AllSky Camera
At 11:32 p.m. MST on Nov.28th, a very bright short duration meteor was observed traveling NE to S-SW just East of Tucson Arizona. The event lasted for 2-3 seconds during which it burned with a magnitude slightly brighter than the full ...
  
Local author explores history of the Weston meteorite
Weston Forum Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:17 PM PST
In 1807, chemistry professor at Yale University Benjamin Silliman traveled to Weston to study what would become the first scientifically recorded meteorite landing. Two hundred years later, author Cathryn J. Prince attended a talk on the anniversary of the meteorite landing ... (Weston meteorite for sale if there is a buyer- contact LunarMeteorite*Hunter)


December brings total lunar eclipse
Baltimore Sun (blog)
The year's earliest sunset occurs on the 8 th as Sol drops below Baltimore's western horizon at 4:43 pm The annual Geminid meteor shower – one of the year's ...

Will Proof of Extraterrestrial Life Be Revealed at a Ramada Inn? AOL News 29) -- A Michigan man claiming to possess an ice meteorite rich in extraterrestrial organisms will announce in a news conference Tuesday that alien life, ... (cracked-pot meteorite science)

Georgia residents report mysterious boom
UPI.com
An amateur astronomer said a meteorite probably didn't cause the boom. "A really big meteor can make a sonic boom, but if it did it would make a big flash ...


Reader of Meteor/Meteorite News Meteor Siting:

Eyewitness to meteor on 11/14/2010 6:30 AM over Silver Spring, MD
I saw the meteor at 6:30 A.M. on 11/14. The sky was a beautiful pink color with the sun lighting up the clouds in the east from below. The sun had either just risen or was about to rise. I was walking south near 14400 Fairdale Rd, Silver Spring, Md 20905. The meteor was traveling east to west in a “smear” of 3 - 5 glowing balls at about 30 degrees above the horizon line. It was less than 10 seconds, possibly as little as 5 from the start of the event to the end. The event covered a good 30 – 40 degree swath of sky. The meteor burned out, very evenly, with a burning jet behind the main mass, until completely gone. The pink clouds and blue sky contrasted the bright green color of the meteor (it was the color of copper burning under a bunsen burner).
Brian S. (contact info)

Ireland / Canada Meteor/Meteorite News Early 30NOV2010

Regional round-up reports from around the country

Irish Times - ‎4 時間前‎
WEST: A METEORITE was sighted shooting over Galway last night as air temperatures fell to -6 degrees. The fireball was spotted by several people in the ... (Ireland meteor 28NOV2010)

Armagh Observatory
 The Armagh Observatory received 26 fireball reports last night and early this morning, reporting a slow east-west moving fireball occurring around 17:45 UTC last night (Nov 28, 2010) north of the island of Ireland. ...

The reports, here: http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/cgi-bin/fireballs/browse.pl


Reports from Readers of Meteor/Meteorite News:

near Dublin, Ireland (53 16'37"N, 6 25'08"W) 17:45 approx. 28th Nov 2010

Guest454 (guest): 17:45 approx. 28th Nov 2010, NNE . I was standing at 53 degrees16'37"N-6degrees25'08"W looking NNE ,It was low and fast,White with white red and blue tail

Sligo, Ireland 17:45 28NOV2010

Guest805 (guest):Saw a fireball this evening very low in sky at about 1745 over Sligo in Ireland

Dublin, Ireland  17:45 28NOV2010

barrie (guest): hey guy i saw a fireball over dublin ireland this afternoon at about 17:45 our time.any idea what it was??

If you saw a meteor please fill out the official AMS report form:http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/report.html 

Edmonton, AB, Canada 5:42pm MST  Nov. 27
Guest654 (guest): Hi... 15 kms east of Edmonton, AB on Nov. 27 at 5:42pm MST travelling ENE to SW in the sky,brief about one second but lit up dark open field with two flareups during its trace... don`t recall the color; surprised it wasnt in the paper the next day, Was well off the horizon when facing the west, maybe 30 to 40 deg. if horizon is counted as 0 deg. ... (Thank you for the information... please file a formal report at  the AMS site: http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/report.html )

Meteor/Meteorite News 29NOV2010

Regional round-up reports from around the country

Irish Times - ‎4 時間前‎
WEST: A METEORITE was sighted shooting over Galway last night as air temperatures fell to -6 degrees. The fireball was spotted by several people in the ... (Ireland meteor)

Georgia residents report mysterious boom
UPI.com - 10 hours ago
An amateur astronomer said a meteorite probably didn't cause the boom. "A really big meteor can make a sonic boom, but if it did it would make a big flash ... (Georgia Boom 26NOV2010)

What's Up in December Lunar eclipse and meteor shower add thrills to chilly nights

Press Herald
 One of them, the Geminid meteor shower, happens every December, but the other one, a total lunar eclipse, will not happen again for us in this location ...

British Antarctic Expedition

by David Entwistle

There is a British expedition to the Antarctic underway. This 
wouldn't be of particular interest here, but I also read on the BBC web 
site that, "The crew has also been given specialist training to help 
them spot potential meteorite samples on the ice".
BBC report is here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11384454
The expedition web page is here:
http://www.transantarcticexpedition.com/

Reports from Readers of Meteor/Meteorite News:
Windsor, ON. Canada 11:15 pm eastern time, Nov 27,2010.
Guest140 (guest): 
A slow moving orange/yellow fireball with a smoke trail, it appeared to be free-floating in the southern skies our right to left. (west to south) It was an awesome sight!!
There has got to be someone else out there who saw the same thing!! We are from Windsor, ON. Canada and it happened here about 11:15 pm eastern time, Nov 27,2010.

Parrish, FL.United States; south of Tampa   2:10am Saturday, November,27th, 2010
SkyLvrFL (guest): I was searching to see if anyone else saw what I saw early this morning. A fireball light up the sky on Saturday, November,27th, 2010 @ 2:10am. I just happened to look up and caught something streaking across the sky. It had a long trail mostly orange(ish)and what looked like sparks and peices of fire. An object lead the way which looked twice the size of the trail in circumfrance and was very bright maybe orange/white/blueish.The thing is, it's movement was parallel to the horizon (left to right) Not from top to bottom, and did not appear to be moving much faster than a plane would be. The trail was pretty long and there was a very bright flash of blue/white then it was gone. It looked exactly like a plane exploding. It appeared to be out over the gulf of Mexico. From my location (Parrish, FL.United States; south of Tampa) it was at 215 degrees S.W.with an elevation of approximately 40 degrees. I have NEVER seen anything like it in 36 years and I watch the night sky almost every night. I have seen meteors and shooting stars. They move extremely fast.This (thing) did not. I was just hoping that somebody,somewhere, saw it too. I even called a couple local news stations to see if anyone else had reported it. Well, happy sky watching.

near Dublin, Ireland (53 16'37"N, 6 25'08"W) 17:45 approx. 28th Nov 2010
Guest454 (guest): 17:45 approx. 28th Nov 2010, NNE . I was standing at 53 degrees16'37"N-6degrees25'08"W looking NNE ,It was low and fast,White with white red and blue tail

Sligo, Ireland 17:45 28NOV2010
Guest805 (guest):Saw a fireball this evening very low in sky at about 1745 over sligo in Ireland

Dublin, Ireland  17:45 28NOV2010
barrie (guest): hey guy i saw a fireball over dublin ireland this afternoon at about 17:45 our time.any idea what it was??

If you saw a meteor please fill out the official AMS report form:http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/report.html 

Meteor/Meteorite News 27/28NOV2010

ELP:  Meteor News...Saint Cloud Florida Fireball 11/25/10
By El Paso AllSky Camera
This blog is for the discussion of primarily West Texas, Southern and Central New Mexico, Eastern Arizona and Northern and Northwestern Mexico meteor/ite events. Significant USA, as well as Major event news will be ...

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 27-December 3, 2010 « The ...
By Carl Hergenrother
The Meteor Activity Outlook is a weekly summary of expected meteor activity written by Robert Lunsford, Operations Manager of the American Meteor Society and contributor to this blog. The original unedited version of this week's Meteor ...

Backyard Astronomer: Meteor showers are plentiful in December
Sierra Vista Herald
By Neal Galt The first half of December is highlighted by no less than six different predictable meteorshowers. Five of the showers would be considered ...

Jet, space junk, or UFO?
MyFox Tampa Bay
The callers believed the object may have been a meteor or other object entering Earth's atmosphere. Photos sent by one viewer showed the bright object with ...

Meteorite, Meteorite hunting Dog,Nevada meteorites ...

3 min video
Nevadameteorites Brix training to recover meteorites Part 2
youtube.com

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 27-December 3, 2010

by Robert Lunsford - American Meteor Society

No matter where you live, the first half of December provides some of the best meteor activity of the year. In the northern hemisphere the sporadic rates are still strong plus you can also count on strong activity from the Geminids, which peak on December 14. There are also several minor radiants that add a few meteors each hour. All of these centers of activity are located high in the sky during the early morning hours this time of year. Much of the activity mentioned above can also be seen from the southern hemisphere. While the sporadic rates are not as strong as those seen from the north, they are stronger than the previous months and heading for a maximum in January. The warm, but short summer nights south of the equator make for some great viewing as long as the moon does not interfere. 

During this period the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Saturday November 27th. At this time the moon lies ninety degrees west of the sun and rises near midnight LST (Local Standard Time). Thus morning observers will have moonlight to contend with this weekend. Successful observations can still be undertaken as long as the moon is kept out of your field of view. The light of the last quarter moon is much less intense than that of a full moon and many meteors can still be seen, especially under transparent skies. As the week progresses the waning crescent moon becomes less of a problem as it grows dimmer and rises later and later during the early morning hours. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this week is near five from the northern hemisphere and three for observers south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near fifteen from the northern hemisphere and thirteen as seen from the southern hemisphere. The actual rates will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness and experience in watching meteor activity. Morning rates are reduced due to moonlight. 

The radiant (the area of the sky where meteors appear to shoot from) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning November 27/28. These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed coordinates may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases (available at science stores and planetariums) will provide maps with grid lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where these positions are located in the sky. A planisphere or computer planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky, either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at the radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies at the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to easily trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower member) or in another direction if it is a sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located below the horizon. The positions below are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier in the night while those listed further down the list rise later in the night. 

The following showers are expected to be active this week: 

The December Phoenicids (PHO) are a periodic shower that rarely produces noticeable activity. The only impressive display produced by this shower occurred in 1956 when ZHR's were near 100. Peak activity occurs on December 6. Little activity is expected away from the peak night. The radiant is currently located at 00:50 (012) -52. This position lies in central Phoenix some ten degrees southeast of the second magnitude star Ankaa (Alpha Phoenicis). These meteors are best seen near 2100 (9pm) LST, when the radiant lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky. Due to the southerly declination of the radiant, this shower is not visible north of the northern tropical areas. The deep southern hemisphere has the best chance of seeing any activity. At 22 km/sec. the Phoenicids produce very slow meteors. 

Sirko Molau and Juergen Rendtel's studies of video radiants has revealed that activity from the famous Andromedid shower, noted for intense storms during the 19th century, may still be seen throughout November. This week is your last chance to see them for 2010. The current position of the large radiant is 01:44 (026) +45. This position lies in eastern Andromeda, three degrees south of the fourth magnitude star 51 Andromedae. Visual activity is expected to be low, but detectable. An inconspicuous maximum occurred on November 12. The Andromedid meteors are best seen near 2200 (10pm) LST when the radiant lies on the meridian. At 19km/sec., the average Andromedid will appear as a very slow moving meteor. Sirko mentions that these meteors are "conspicuously slow and of almost constant activity" during this month. 

The center of the large Northern Taurid (NTA) radiant lies at 04:49 (072) +25. This area of the sky is located in central Taurus, eight degrees north of the orange first magnitude star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri). These meteors are best seen near 0100 LST, when the radiant lies highest above the horizon. This shower peaked on November 13, so rates are falling should be near two per hour. Meteors from the Northern Taurids strike the atmosphere at 29km/sec., which would produce meteors of slow velocity. This shower is also responsible for many of the fireball reports seen in November. 

The November Orionids (NOO) were recently discovered by analyzing video data. For years it was lost in the maze of radiants active this time of year. Due to the low activity, visual observers were unable to detect this shower. This shower is active from November 18 through December 9. Maximum activity occurs on November 30. Once you know the radiant in advance, this shower is actually quite noticeable, producing an average of two shower members per hour near maximum. The radiant is currently located at 05:58 (090) +15. This position lies in northeastern Orion, seven degrees north of the orange first magnitude star Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis). These meteors are best seen near 0200 LST when the radiant lies on the meridian and highest above the horizon. At 44 km/sec. the November Orionids produce mostly medium velocity meteors. 

The Puppid-Velids (PUP) are a vast complex of weak radiants located in the constellations of Puppis and Vela. Visual plots and photographic studies have revealed many radiants in this area during November and December. The combined strength of these radiants can produce a ZHR of ten. Actual hourly rates will be much less unless you happen to be observing from the deep Southern Hemisphere. The center of this activity is currently located at 07:52 (118) -45. This position lies in eastern Puppis, four degrees northwest of the second magnitude star Gamma Velorum. Peak rates occur near December 7. These meteors are best seen near 0300 LST when the radiant lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky. Observers located in the Southern Hemisphere have an advantage viewing this shower as the radiant will rise higher into their sky allowing more activity to be seen. At 40 km/sec. the Puppid-Velids produce meteors of average velocity. 

Another shower verified by video means are the Psi Ursa Majorids (PSU). This shower is active from November 29-December 13 with maximum activity occurring on December 5. The radiant is currently located at 10:38 (159) +45. This position lies in southwestern Ursa Major, five degrees west of the third magnitude star Kappa Ursae Majoris. This area of the sky is best placed during the last hour before dawn, when it lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky. Current rates would most likely be less than one per hour. At 61km/sec., the average Psi Ursa Majorid meteor would be swift. 

This week is your last chance to see the Leonids (LEO) for 2010. This shower peaked on the Thursday morning November 18 and current rates are well below one per hour no matter your location. The radiant is located at 10:41 (160) +19. This position lies in central Leo, four degrees east of the second magnitude star Algeiba (Gamma Leonis). The area of the sky does not clear the eastern horizon until the late evening hours so no Leonid activity can be seen during the early evening hours. These meteors are best seen during the last hour before the onset of morning twilight, when the radiant lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky. At 71km/sec., the average Leonid is swift with a high percentage of trains. 

Another shower verified by video means are the December Kappa Draconids (KDR). This shower is active from November 30-December 6 with maximum activity occurring on December 3. Activity from this source is not expected this weekend. On the night of maximum the radiant will be located at 12:22 (185) +72. This position lies in extreme western Draco, two degrees northwest of the faint star Kappa Draconis. While the radiant lies above the horizon all night for most of the northern hemisphere, it is best placed during the last hour before dawn, when it lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky. Current rates would most likely be less than one per hour. At 43km/sec., the average December Kappa Draconid meteor would be of medium velocity. 

As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see approximately ten sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near four per hour. As seen from the mid-southern hemisphere (45S), morning rates would be near five per hour as seen from rural observing sites and two per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between the listed figures. Morning rates are reduced due to moonlight. 

The list below presents a condensed version of the expected activity this week. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning. 

December Phoenicids (PHO) Dec 06 00:50 (012) -52 18 21:00 <1 - <1 III 
Andromedids (AND) Nov 12 01:44 (026) +45 19 22:00 <1 - <1 IV 
Northern Taurids (NTA) Nov 13 04:49 (072) +25 29 01:00 2 - 2 II 
November Orionids (NOO) Nov 30 05:58 (090) +15 44 04:00 2 - 2 II 
Puppid-Velids (PUP) Dec 07 07:52 (118) -45 40 06:00 <1 - 2 II 
Psi Ursa Majorids (PSU) Dec 05 10:38 (1) +4595 61 07:00 <1 - <1 IV 
Leonids (LEO) Nov 18 10:41 (160) +19 71 07:00 <1 - <1 I 
December Kappa Draconids (KDR) Dec 03 12:22 (185) +72 43 09:00 <1 - <1 IV 

December Phoenicids (PHO) - 00:50 (012) -5   Velocity - 18km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr

Andromedids (AND) - 01:44 (026) +45   Velocity - 19km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr

Northern Taurids (NTA) - 04:49 (072) +25   Velocity - 29km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - 2 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - 2 per hr.

November Orionids (NOO) - 05:58 (090) +15   Velocity - 44km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - 2 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - 2 per hr

Puppid-Velids (PUP) - 07:52 (118) -45   Velocity - 40km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - 2 per hr

Psi Ursa Majorids (PSU) - 10:38 (159) +45   Velocity - 61km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - >1 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - >1 per hr

Leonids (LEO) - 10:41 (160) +19   Velocity - 71km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - >1 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - >1 per hr

December Kappa Draconids (KDR) - 12:22 (185) +72   Velocity - 43km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - >1 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - >1 per hr

*For a detailed explanation on the different classes of meteor showers and other astronomical terms, please visit: http://www.amsmeteors.org/showers.html#X2010


Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford 
American Meteor Society

Meteor/Meteorite News 26NOV2010

From readers of Meteor/Meteorite News:
ajc020786: At approx 5:30 pm on 11/25/10 I seen a ball of fire that appeared to be falling out of the sky. I was in Saint Cloud, FL.
Guest294 (guest): 6:50 pm meteor fireball across north east sky near North Platte, Nebraska
Guest43 (guest): I saw a falling star in n indiana 01:30 11-26 any reports?  // please do email me.
Guest807 (guest): Saw same falling star as Guest 43 I'm guessing...
2:30 A.M.on 11/26 in the eastern sky. We are in central Illinois.


If you saw a meteor go to the AMS site a make a formal report http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/report.html

grenzwissenschaft-aktuell.de (Blog)

Extremophiles Bakterium könnte auf dem Mars Millionen Jahre überdauern

grenzwissenschaft-aktuell.de (Blog) - ‎2010年11月25日‎

... außerirdischer Herkunft handelt, das einst selbst huckepack mit Asteroiden, Meteoriten und Kometen die Erde befruchtet haben könnte (...wir berichteten)

Meteorite man rocks the library in Tillamook
Coast Weekend
TILLAMOOK - Renowned scientist, author and lecturer Dick Pugh will exhibit and share information about more than $15000 worth of meteorites at the Tillamook ...

Mifflin Meteorite gets permanent home at UW museum
Chicago Tribune
AP Fragments of the meteorite that brightened the skies of Wisconsin and parts of Iowa on April 14 have become part of the permanent collection of the ...

Wis. Meteorite Fragments Now in Permanent Collection WDIO Duluth Thu, 25 Nov 2010 14:32 PM PST Fragments of the meteorite that brightened the skies of Wisconsin and parts of Iowa on April 14 have become part of the permanent collection of the University of Wisconsin- Madison's Geology Museum. ... Midwest meteorite from April now on display KWWL Iowa Thu, 25 Nov 2010 06:19 AM PST Part of a meteorite which brightened the skies of  northeast Iowa in April will now be on display at a Wisconsin museum. ... Mifflin Meteorite gets permanent home at UW museum KWQC-TV 6 Davenport Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:19 AM PST Associated Press - November 25, 2010 5:04 AM ET MADISON, Wis. (AP) -Fragments of the meteorite that brightened the skies of Wisconsin and parts of Iowa on April 14 have become part of the... Meteorite fragments end up in Wisconsin museum WEAU-TV 13 The comment sections of our web set are designed for  thoughtful, intelligent conversation and debate. We want  to hear from our viewers but we are not ...