NUFORC Sighting 96316

Occurred: 1999-11-16 21:30 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2013-02-14 19:18 Pacific
Duration: 60 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Simpsonville, KY, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Left a trail

I was pulling up my long driveway facing Southwest and saw in the distance what first looked like Airplane landing lights coming toward me.

A few seconds passed when I started to see flames and then thought it was an airplane on fire. A few more seconds passed when I stopped my truck and got out to watch and noticed I could hear the crackling and rumbling sound of fire. It was a HUGE meteor burning up in our atmosphere and I thought I was witnessing the end of the Earth.

I watched as parts of it broke off and fell into the tail. As each piece joined the tail they hit the next one knocking it farther back. I was still in amazement.

I continued to watch for about a minute as the meteor shreaked across the sky following the Earth's curvature until it was completely out of sight.

I believe it was so massive and traveling at such a high rate of speed that it's momentum let it enter the Earth's atmosphere, skip straight through and exit without ever touching down.!

I have no way of knowing how big it was for sure but visually it was about 6 inches in diameter. The fact that I could hear it meant it couldn't have been too far away. I estimate within 100 miles because it was inside our atmosphere. For something to appear visually to be six inches high at 100 miles I estimate it would have to be at least as big as the island of Cuba. I feel honored to have witnessed it.

NUFORC Note:

Witness indicates that the date is approximate. PD

Posted 2013-02-18