[meteorite-list] Fireball lights up sky north of Winnipeg

From: Michael Groetz <mpg4444_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:39:07 -0500
Message-ID: <ad733151002251739v7bea04eap6961261fdc2797cd_at_mail.gmail.com>

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Fireball+lights+north+Winnipeg/2613362/story.html


Fireball lights up sky north of Winnipeg

  Winnipeg Free PressFebruary 25, 2010 3:03 PMBe the first to post a comment

  WINNIPEG ? A fireball streaked across the sky near Winnipeg on
Thursday, and one expert says it may have left debris behind.


"It looks like a fireworks display," said Manitoba Planetarium
astronomer Scott Young. "One report said it was greenish in colour."


Numerous people reported seeing the ball of fire around 6:30 a.m. near
the Birds Hill Park area, north of Winnipeg.


The fireball is known to astronomers as a bolide, a large meteor or
shooting star.


Young said this happens when a grain of space debris comes in contact
with the atmosphere, where the friction heats up the meteor, making it
look like a ball of fire.


He said based on reports, this bolide was probably the size of a
baseball or cabbage. Its large size means it has more of a chance of
leaving a meteorite behind.


"Smaller versions of this happen every day in the world," Young said.
"But it's pretty rare for someone to see something as big as this."


Myron Witnicki witnessed the fireball when he was driving into work.


"It streaked left to right like a huge ball in the sky," he said.


"It looked like something out of a disaster movie."


The fireball was about 30 kilometres up in the air if people could see
it burning, said Young, and went eastward toward the horizon, probably
far away from the Winnipeg area.


Young said officials are looking for more eyewitness reports or anyone
who thinks they may have found debris from the bolide.


"They're very dark rocks and usually very heavy for their size," he said.


He also said the meteorite would probably be magnetic and smooth with
no bubbles or crystals.
Received on Thu 25 Feb 2010 08:39:07 PM PST