NUFORC Sighting 40841

Occurred: 2004-11-27 13:05 Local
Reported: 2004-11-29 23:12 Pacific
Duration: 15 mins
No of observers: 1

Location: Cathlamet, WA, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object

Fireball over SW Washington

I witnessed a fireball this past weekend over Cathlamet, Washington. I origionally thought it was an interesting cloud formation -- a small blob about the size of a full moon with a sort of comet tail -- I didn't think anything of it while i was loading my car for a trip into Longview. While in my car heading east on SR4 I noticed the formation was still there! (a little lower in the sky) It looked just like a bright comet... tail and all. About 2 minutes into the trip I remembered I had my digital video camera with me in my computer bag. I started shooting blindly out the windshield but quickly realised that this was not going to work. About a mile and a half up the road was a viewing area/turn out that faced the Columbia River where I got out and got decent shots of the fireball. I have about 90 seconds of fair footage (I am NOT a video film photographer by a long stretch!).... I only wish I started filming a lot sooner. I reported this to the local astronomy group (Friends of Galileo) who didn't hear of anything expected to be fallen from the sky in our area. I am sure it is space junk but it was pretty amazing.

Posted 2004-12-03