NUFORC Sighting 47319

Occurred: 2005-10-30 19:30 Local
Reported: 2005-10-31 09:19 Pacific
Duration: momentary
No of observers: 2

Location: Napa, CA, USA

Shape: Fireball

Falling fireball ended in lightning-like flash to north of Napa, CA 10/30/2005 19:30 PST

While traveling north on CA SR29 near the Napa County Airport we observed a rapidly falling fireball dropping behind a small (200' elevation) hill to our north. Scale and distance are hard to guess, but we thought it might be on the order of 25-30 miles distant. Much farther than that and the scale of the object would have been rather immense.

Our location at the time of sighting was approximately 38°13'59.74"N by 122°15'34.61"W, elevation about 88 feet ASL. Skies were pretty much clear all around.

The odd thing about it was that as the fireball disappeared over the horizon there was a tremendous flash of light, very much like lightning in the color of the light and how it lit the sky and backlit the hill between it and us. It was almost a disappointment that we did not hear a corresponding kaBOOM.

NUFORC Note:

We received several other reports from California about this incident. We spoke via telephone with this witness, and he seemed to us to be an exceptionally good witness, and exceptionally credible. PD

Posted 2005-11-03