[meteorite-list] Giant Fragmenting Fireball (Chihuahua/Sinaloa)

From: MexicoDoug <mexicodoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 18:20:49 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <8CE9AE0F60D7024-262C-9E315_at_webmail-m158.sysops.aol.com>

Dear List,

This was a biggee.

Huge fireball fragments into three large pieces, 4 January 2011 18:50
hours local time. There were plenty of witnesses but still no comment
in the press where those witnesses are, though they may be from the
initial location reported.

This is what is NOW being claimed as close to the most possible point
of impact:
 26?22'54.20"N, -107?46'0.00"E

Someone at NASA has apparently provided locational information from
imaging to authorities involved in the search.

This was the initial location reported:
 25?23'11.61"N, -107?52'11.42"W

But for some very odd reason there was distortion in the press and the
new one is now being given, which is high in the mountains. Searchers
in Sinoloa seem to think it could have fallen here if it "didn't reach"
the NEW location given above, in this reservoir:
 25?53'9.94"N, -107?52'35.49"W

or near this community, although local authorities (military is
separate) are throwing their hands up and saying it possibly went
onward to the NEW location, but maybe it is near here:
 26? 8'47.30"N, -107?53'29.12"W

All the locations are along a line, so that is good, and that line has
pushed from Sinaloa to Chihuahua, right over the mountanous border.

Hopefully something good comes out of this.

Oh, authorities said, the problem with these is that dangerous gases
can escape and sicken people (perhaps a reference to Peru). If the
area is found, the military will set up another quarantine area. This
is not the first time it has been done. And those are wild hills, some
infested with guys you wouldn't even want to meet in broad daylight on
the highway. But mostly there are very good people (mostly indigenous
blooded) trying to earn a living in the nearly unpopulated difficult
terrain.

No detected sound or seismic activity seems reported yet.

Kindest wsihes
Doug
Received on Fri 06 Jan 2012 06:20:49 PM PST