EAAS observer has reported seeing a very bright daytime Fireball at 9:45pm

hi conor thanks for getting back 2 me. ok will give as much info as i can. colour was white/silver heading what seemed upwards with quite a tail. As 4 height in the sky, it was like a very high flying aircraft. it seemed 2 be over antrim at the time. I was coming from ballyclare direction from about 1 mile outside. I have looked at the photo and what I saw was definately a lot brighter than that. And the sky itself was still blue as in the sunset hadnt reached it yet!! Its hard 2 say but if i was looking up at the sky and had 2 measure this thing i would say about 7 or 8deg long if that makes any sense. I just thought it was amazing and was glad 2 hit the traffic lights in town so I could actually look at it and not worry about taking my eyes of the road and running into the back of someones car!! If u have anyother questions please ask

I just thought it was amazing and was glad 2 hit the traffic lights in town so I could actually look at it and not worry

This comment makes it sound to me that this was around for a while (a lot longer than a fireball would have). I'm wondering if it was actually an aircraft with a contrail illuminated by the setting sun!

East Antrim Astronomical Society Forum :: General :: General Board :: C/2005 K2 LINEAR In Outburst!

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Hi and welcome to the group!
At about this time my Brother and I were coming back to Maghaberry from Ringhaddy Strangford and not far along the road we seen a very high flying jet coming from America. While the sun had not long set the vapor trail from the jet was bright white as the sun was still shining on it, I wonder if this could be what you saw? Direction was towards the north west or slightly west of it. That would also fit your direction, I wonder?
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siobhain


hi johnmc
Have seen a lot of jets in my time as my father was in the airforce and also living next to the airport and have never seen anything like this before. It wasnt just one single tail there were 3, the longest being the middle one. It seemed too big as well and it didnt seem 2 move. My hubby didnt think it was a jet either as the top of it seemed flat. I'm not saying you're wrong but I think it was more than a jet. lets just say that whatever it was it got my attention lol

Yes it now seems clear that it could have been a aeroplane contrail she seen as they can look like comets at times close to the sun. At least thats what i think it is.

I was driving North from Wicklow to Dublin during this time with a fairly clear view over the hills and saw nothing. Either I missed it or it wasnt visible this far south. I always seem to chime in with negative reports of fireballs

Hi,
I was keeping an eye on the sunset and twilight this evening when I noticed an airplane to the west, it had a particularily white trail and lingered for over 10 minutes before it finally dissapeared into the western horison.
what really struck me was how it resembled a fireball in slow motion, I nearly took a pic of it with the canon, sorry I didnt now!
I havent seen something like that for a long time, it was particularly white and striking, this was at approx 9.30-10.00.

Obviously, as I'm over 200 miles from you, it was hardly the same plane/object, but of course there would be more then one plane heading west.