This was seen from several locations. Using reports from Creston WA and Monitor WA, I plotted a rough flight path and termination point. Doppler radar painted a return very close to this point at 60,000 feet, interesting for sure.
The time of the event was probably between 2210 2215 MDT time on 8/7/12. The yellow line on the image is a rough flight path from SE to NW. The blue rectangle is the doppler radar return. The red ones are the azmuiths from the two end points of each observer.
As usual, the elevations from the reports are inacurate, but one observer in Libby MT seems to have made an accurate measurement with elevation angles appropriate for his distance from the event. The azmuiths of this observer's begin and end point also lines up with those of the other two reports, giving them some support.
Fragmentation was reported by most of the observers. The one at Monitor reported a delayed boom. Also, the high altitude winds aloft were from 245T at 73 knts, winds at lower alltitude were minimal.
6 comments:
Wow! This is pretty cool. Do you think it's worth going there and looking for meteorites?
This radar target is not a very good one. It is probably noise. However, it is in the right spot according to witness observations. But I wouldn't go unless you were close to the area. I have never had any luck with these smaller targets but i continue to try when i get the chance
Well, it is only two hours from my house, plus that area is known for their meteorites. Both the Waterville and Withrow meteorites were found with in 8 miles of each other. How did you calculate trajectory (I'm still learning)?
what I do is get the observation data from the Ameican Meteorite Society fireball logs. This is were the two observations came from above. These will have azmuith and elevation for the begining and end of each observation. From the location of each observer plot each azmuith on google earth or any other suitable map. The best observations to use are from observers who are facing each other with the meteor passing between them. The two meteor begin lines, one for each observer, should cross as should the two meteor end lines for each observer. These two points define the flight path, very approximately. That is the first thing I do to get an idea of what radar stations to look at. The biggest problem is the inaccuracies of the observations particularly the altitude above the horizon. If better observations are available I calculate plane eqations for each observer and find the solution of the system which is a line.
Awesome! That's helpful. You must be a professional. But why these two? According to AMS there are 20 sightings, plus one guy (1103i) said he has a picture. I could probably get a hold of this guy and get a copy. Should I try and plot more sightings?
This is cool. I feel like Indiana Jones. :)
I chose the two I did because each observer was on different sides of the flight path. One saw it go left to right the other saw it go right to left. Also, not all of the rports have all four values for azmuith nd elevation. The picture, if it exists, wouldnt provide much info unless there were some stars in the background which is unlikely.
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