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Fireball?

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14 years 6 months ago #80954 by Simon Potterton
Fireball? was created by Simon Potterton
A fireball in the sky?
Seen west,south-west from Ballycullen, Dublin 24 at about 11:15 last night.
I cannot find any information on this 'item'. Seen through binoculars with witnesses.
I had hoped that someone might have posted this 'phenomenon' on the boards already.

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14 years 6 months ago #80956 by Graham
Replied by Graham on topic Re:Fireball?
Is a fireball actually a ball of fire?

I saw what I taught was just a shooting star but it left a trail for a few seconds.. is that usual for a shooting star?

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14 years 6 months ago - 14 years 6 months ago #80961 by Seanie_Morris
Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re:Fireball?
Hi Simon,
Welcome to our humble abode.

A fireball, or bollide, is an exceptionally large and/or bright meteor. Visually, you'd think a fireball would have something survive atmospheric entry and touch ground, they appear THAT brilliant.

At that time last night, I was indoors, so I definitely didn't se it. There was also a similar report to your on here:
www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055679666

A bit of conflict in peoples replies as some say it was a host of Chinese Lanterns.

A final note: a fireball would not really be something associated with binoculars due to their speed and size. Are you sure it was a fireball?

Seanie.

Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
Last edit: 14 years 6 months ago by Seanie_Morris.

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14 years 6 months ago #80988 by Simon Potterton
Replied by Simon Potterton on topic Re:Fireball?
Hi Seanie,

Seen your name around the boards a lot! Thank you for the quick response.
Fireball? I really don't know what to call it, I have never seen anything like this.
The story. Changing e.p to observe Jupiter in the southern sky over the Dublin Mountains - turned around to spot a bright orange shape close to the trajectory of the I.S.S, west, south-west of Tallaght. My first thought was something was supporting combustion at considerable altitude. The object appeared 'stationary' from where I stood, it was much lager and brighter than Jupiter. As I could not make out its nebulous shape, I went for my binos, inside and put away. I called my wife and we went to a back bedroom to look at the 'object' through the 12 x 56 Binoculars. We both had time to look, after 10-15 seconds my wife left the scene, I continued to watch, after a further 10-15 seconds, the 'object' dissipated, smaller glowing 'embers' fell slowly to earth, losing their by now red glow - like watching a science experiment such as one for 'Brownian Motion'. The colour ofthe main 'body' was initially glowing 'orange', however this turned to a definite 'red' by the time 'it' fell apart.
With the binoculars, I could make out flames and could see that the combustion was similar to a hot coal encouraging combustion as the coal emits gas, flames chase around the coal, such was this.
I would estimate this 'object' was higher in the sky than Jupiter but not much, close to the height that I have seen the I.S.S. I am a complete novice in astronomy and perhaps there is a simple explanation. As you might expect this 'all' took place in total silence!
Simon.

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14 years 6 months ago #80993 by mjc
Replied by mjc on topic Re:Fireball?
From how you describe this it sounds to me that it was a chinese lantern.

The ones that I have seen (quite a number of weeks ago - one observation event). In my case there were several lanterns. I saw some ascend rapdily from a low altitude. This sort of gave the game away for me. If one were to just see one at a distance after it had ascended some for some time I'd say it would deceive most. I had to investigate these so I grabbed my binos. Even with these it was hard to discern detail at the distance that they were. The ones I saw were orange and the paper canopy of one caught fire - one could see the dropping embers a little more readily (relative motion) than any flames or canopy shape. Then I saw the failed lantern descend - and the flames became more evident more or less with that.

A fireball would be far shorter lifetime in my oppinion - a small number of seconds to maybe a little longer. I've seen one of those too (I believe - twas months ago) and it was orange. In the case of the object I saw, the trajectory, speed, and apparent size and visual "fizzling" ruled out a chinese lantern or a firework (it was more or less tangental with the horizon - not gaining altitude).

A single chinese lantern - at a distance can be very confusing.

Hope this helps - BTW its exciting to see anything new in the sky so enjoy regardless of what it turns out to be.

Mark

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14 years 6 months ago #80994 by Simon Potterton
Replied by Simon Potterton on topic Re:Fireball?
Hi Mark,

Thanks, an interesting idea!

Do you know how high these 'Chinese Lanterns' can rise into the sky?
Presumably, these 'lanterns' will only maintain their zenith briefly, what I saw stayed close to motionless(apparently) for something between one and two minutes.
The intensity with which this item burned made me think that a 'significant' amount of 'fuel' was available,something more sustaining than paper.
I wonder where I could get my hands on one of the 'Chinese Lanterns' and do a "Mythbusters" on it!

Simon

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