NUFORC Sighting 06176

Occurred: 1999-04-14 22:30 Local
Reported: 1999-04-15 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 15 seconds
No of observers: 0

Location: Washington, D.C., DC, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aura or haze around object

Intensely fast green glowing fireball crossed the sky from nw to se over the Washington DC beltway and went below the viewable horizon.

While driving along the Capital Beltway at about 830 at night, I was headed south on the outerlook near the Rt. 50 exit. Because my tops were off on my car, I noticed a extremely fast green fireball race across the sky overhead moving from nw to se. The fireball was first noticed just above my head and then flew inside the Washington DC beltway and headed off in the direction of Andrews airforce base. If the object was at 30000 feet, it would have to be moving in excess of 20,000 mph. Since it was dark and the object looked like nothing I had ever seen, I could not judge the altitude. I have watched meteor showers and this was like nothing I had ever seen. Much more bright and colorful. Plus, there was no trail like I always see with a meteor shower. It did look like the object had a bit of green haze around it but not much. I cannot overstate how bright the object was. Anyone outside would have noticed it and there had to be other people who saw it. It moved across about 40 degrees of sky in less than 7 seconds. It traveled from zenith to 40 degrees where I lost it through the trees but could see it move further se through gaps in the branches and as much as I could keep my car from wrecking.

Posted 2002-09-06

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