NUFORC Sighting 96038

Occurred: 2012-12-15 18:00 Local
Reported: 2013-01-20 12:45 Pacific
Duration: 3 seconds
No of observers: 2

Location: Portland, OR, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object

Fireballs seen south of Portland, OR area

On the evening of December 15, 2012, my friend and I were driving north on I-5, just south of the Portland area in Oregon (we were south of Tualatin, to be more exact- however, the sighting information states Portland, OR). It was between 18:00-19:00 in the evening, with a clear sky. Looking to NNW, we saw two ‘fireball’ structures flash through the night sky momentarily (for approximately 3 seconds). They were ‘falling’ vertically, as if they were meteorites. However, I have seen several meteorites (3 over 3 years) while living here, and these were slightly different as I did not immediately identify them as such. We both saw them, and did not have an immediate explanation.

One was slightly larger, primarily white with orange around the edges (no streaking tail) and the other showed up almost simultaneously a short distance down and left of the original structure. This one was slightly more orange, also with no tail. They fell through the sky for a short second and disappeared. They were ill-defined, as if glowing, whereas most meteorites I have seen have clearly defined margins. I have never seen 2 simultaneously, and all others I have seen have a streaking tail as they fall through the sky.

I am not sure if we saw meteorites or not, but I was intrigued when I heard Peter Davenport on Coast to Coast speaking of increased fireball sightings- otherwise I would not have thought twice about it. I am a graduate student and my friend is a veterinarian working on her PhD- we are both educated people, and educated observers.

Posted 2013-02-04