Fireball in Sky: Cause & Explanation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the cause of a fireball observed in the sky, with participants speculating whether it was a meteor, an artificial satellite, or a comet. The scope includes observational accounts and interpretations of the event.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the fireball was likely a meteor due to its brightness and duration of visibility.
  • One participant argues that if it were an artificial satellite, it would have had a shorter burn time and less fragmentation.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about the brightness of the fireball compared to typical meteors they have seen, indicating a lack of experience in making definitive claims.
  • There is a reference to a historical event (the Tunguska event) as a comparison for what might be expected if it were a comet.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the cause of the fireball, with multiple competing views remaining regarding its nature and classification.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the characteristics of meteors, artificial satellites, and comets are present, but these are not fully explored or resolved in the discussion.

EnumaElish
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Does anyone know the cause of the fireball in the sky last night? Was it a meteor?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/19162074
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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EnumaElish said:
Does anyone know the cause of the fireball in the sky last night? Was it a meteor?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/19162074

No official news has been released yet, but given how long it was visible and how bright it was, it pretty much had to be. If it was an artificial sattelite, I would expect a shorter burn time, and I wouldn't expect the fragmentation seen. If it was comet I think we'd have seen it coming, and I'd expect something along the lines of the Tunguska event.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
it was extremely bright for meteor in my opinions, all the meteors i have seen went much faster and weren't as bright

but i don't have much experience so my input is pretty invalid
 

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