NUFORC Sighting 15075

Occurred: 2000-11-20 22:30 Local
Reported: 2000-11-26 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 6 seconds
No of observers: 2

Location: Destin, FL, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Changed Colo

Multi-color fireball, Destin, FL.

On Nov. 20, 2000 at 22:30 hours, my wife and I were walking west along the beach heading back to our hotel at Destin Florida. I stopped, turned around, and started looking southeast over the Gulf of Mexico. My wife turned around as well and looked in the same direction as I was looking. About 15 seconds later, we both saw a football shaped fireball that suddenly appeared about 10 degrees above the horizion heading straight downward. This firball was moving very slow, and we watched it for a good 6 seconds. Durning this time the fireball changed from a brilliant white color to a dual combination of burnt orange and green. The fireball was about dime size at arms length, and vanished an instant before making contact with the water. I estimate the range from us on the beach at no more than 3 miles. While walking the beach we noticed several meteors crossing the clear, nighttime sky, and this fireball resembled none of them. It was much, much bigger and brighter, and heading downward instead of crossing the sky.

Posted 2000-12-02