Pictures and Videos Capture Canadian Fireball from Sept. 25, 2009
Written by Nancy Atkinson
A brilliant fireball seen over Ontario, Canada on September 25, 2009 was captured by seven all-sky cameras of the University of Western Ontario's Southern Ontario Meteor Network (SOMN.) The fireball was seen widely by observers throughout southern Ontario and adjacent areas. The fireball was first detected by Western's camera systems at an altitude of 100km, and moving southeastwards at 20.8 km/s. From the data collected, the researchers believe the meteoroid was initially about a meter wide, or about the size of a child's tricycle. At its brightest, the fireball was approximately 100 times as bright as the full moon.
Researchers at Western are interested in hearing from anyone within 10 km of Grimsby, Ontario who may have witnessed or recorded this evening event, seen or heard unusual events at the time, or who may have found possible fragments of the freshly fallen meteorite.
The event occurred at 9:03 pm local time on Sept. 25, or 01:03 UT Sept. 26.
Analysis of the all-sky camera records as well as data from Western's meteor radar and infrasound equipment indicates that this bright fireball was large enough to have dropped meteorites in a region south of Grimsby on the Niagara Peninsula, providing masses that may total as much as several kilograms.
To see more videos or images, or if you have questions, observations or possible meteorites check out Western's website.
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October 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
"or who may have found possible fragments of the freshly fallen meteorite."
So it hit the ground?
October 7th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Kevin, most meteors, as they burn in the atmosphere, shed fragments that then fall down at much lower speeds. They never quite "hit the ground", as solid and big bodies, but parts of them do reach the ground, often spread over relatively vast areas. Those are the parts people are now trying to find.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
How does one make an all-sky (fisheye?) camera like that?
My sister lives in fairly dark skies (if only there was some way to get rid of that lone streetlight). It could be fun to have a webcam set up at her place.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I have found a meteorite ( not from this occurrence ). First one after around 50 years of looking.