NUFORC Sighting 48217

Occurred: 2005-12-07 18:55 Local
Reported: 2005-12-08 08:52 Pacific
Duration: 15 seconds
No of observers: 4

Location: North Wilkesboro, NC, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Left a trail

Odd, slow moving dull red fireball leaving a trail.

A dull reddish-orange fireball appeared coming form the west and disappeared into the east. It was not very bright as with the other two fireballs I have witnessed in 30 years of observing the sky. It left trail that glowed for approx. 5 seconds. Facing north it was approx. 60 to 70 degrees above the horizon.

The odd thing was how slow it moved across the sky. I have seen hundreds of meteors (I am an amateur astronomer) and I have never seen one move this slowly before. The other three witnesses agreed that it was moving a lot slower than any meteor they had observed before.

I don't know exactly how to put this into words, but the whole event was just odd. I've never seen a meteor moving due east like that, nor acting like it did. It just kept heading east, never growing brighter or dimmer.

This was definitely not an airplane or a satellite, after all it left a trail.

Posted 2005-12-16