Dec 27th 2008 There was an intensely bright and spectactular fireball seen in the northern California skys. Some reports of a huge fireworks like show with bright green blue gold and white flashes of light. The fireball “blew outwords into a perfect big green circle that formed around the ball” according to Erika Knorn of Merced CA.
She further described it like this – “I heard about 50secs or so later a loud distant boom and a slight rumble like a thunder clap!.. …sounded like a sonic boom.”
When a meteor is witnessed usually it simply burns up and disappears never to be seen or heard again. Sonic booms caused by meteors are even more rarely heard. There might be a slight chance that this meteor impacted the ground. If so there could be meteorites scattered across a huge area. Or, most likely it did not touch down at all, and it’s another very cool meteor sighting.
Sonic Boom Heard
Either way this is an exciting event. The rarity of a meteor such as this is great. Hopefully someone will come forward with some video of this event soon… Until some video is presented of this terrrific show you’ll have to be content with a very unscientific map…
I’ve put together a map based on eywitness reports from Spaceweather.com to give a visual representation of the area. I need to emphasize this is subjective at best, as more info becomes available I’ll try to update the map… Right now I can’t find anything more on it so it’s probably just a fireball with no impact at all. Regardless, it’s a very cool meteor nonetheless. No video yet…
If anyone has video or know’s of a website who has posted anything on this sighting please comment on this post and let me know. If you are an eyewitness please contact Meteorites USA here
Enjoy…
UPDATE: New report from Merced Sun-Star Newspaper: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/615048.html
Jan 2nd 2009 UPDATE: The meteor was traveling in a northwesterly direction according to a report I received from the Merced Sun Star reporter who broke the story. Jason Scott from the Merced, CA newspaper contacted me and reported that Erika Knorn said the meteor was traveling Northwest. We knew this was the general direction of travel but had no confirmation. Confirmation of this report is underway.
If you know anything on this meteor fireball please REPORT YOUR SIGHTING
In Dec,2009 I was metal detecting in Live Oak, California and my detector sounded off, I dug 8 to 10 inches into the soil and recovered what I am convinced to be a piece of meteorite, possibley from the Dec 27, 2008 Meteorite fall.