NUFORC Sighting 04598

Occurred: 1998-10-15 19:48 Local
Reported: 1998-10-16 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 1 second
No of observers: 1

Location: Tyson's Corner, VA, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object, Left a trail

Very large and bright blue-green fireball witnessed while driving North-bound on I-495 (The Beltway).

The fireball was witnessed by myself while driving on the 8 lane I-495 about a quarter mile from Tyson's conrer. I noticed the object as it was heading directly towards the horizon at a perpindicular angle. The object was at about 40 degrees above the horizon when I noticed it. The fireball was about 4 times the size of Jupiter currently in the Southern sky and brighter than a full winter moon. The inner core of the object was a very bright white and the larger corona was a very intense blue-green color. The tail was seperated from the object and was also blue-green with shades of yellow and red. I-495 is the mega-highway that encircles the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and is extremely well lit. Usually, no object in the night sky can be ascertained from the beltway due to the overhead lights. I was very surprised to see a fireball in such a highly populated area. But, I assume that I would not have seen it had it not been so bright and large.

Posted 1998-11-01

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