Occurred: 2011-12-25 21:00 Local
Reported: 2012-01-13 20:16 Pacific
Duration: 40-50 seconds
No of observers: 2

Location: Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

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

I saw a large fireball pass over my house at about 1000 feet --no noise, traveling about 15mph.

From an upstairs window, I observed an orange crescent shaped object flying toward my home. I hollered for my wife who was in another room as I thought it might be a plane on fire. I ran downstairs and on to our driveway as the object was approaching and passing directly over my house at about 1000 feet or so. (estimate) The object was a fairly large glowing orange fireball with what appeared a "hot" white core. It was not like any flame or fire I have ever seen before. It did not produce any smoke or emissions that I could see--the fireball was completely silent. It was on a straight trajectory at a consisent speed of approximatley 15 mph---it appeared the flame was propelling its movement--I could no detect any mechanical structure around the flame---it was a clear, calm, starry night, and the flame emitted a rectangular shaped lit area around the top of it with what appeared some type of heat waves around the flame which were lit up againts the black sky! ---the fire was from three to ten feet in size...my wife also saw this fire from the window--she is from China and says she has never seen anythihng like it--that makes two of us. I am very familiar with aviation, astronomy, meteors, and as a broadcaster and journalist for 25 years, I am a keen observer. This was not a Chinese lantern, a plane, a flare, a meteor, a hot air ballon, lightning, or a piece of debris. I have seen similar descriptions on this website. Please feel free to contact me to learn more. I'd like to learn more and find some answers. Thank you!

Posted 2012-01-24

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