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Astronomy/meteor airburst 1970/71 Cape Cod MA
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Question
Hello,
In late summer (August?) of 1970 or 1971 a group of friends and I witnessed from Cape Cod MA an airburst that lit up the night like daytime for perhaps 10 seconds. It was probably around 10pm.
The light was so intense that I was sure it was a nuclear weapon and expected to die any second. There was no noise from the airburst.
How can I find info on this once in a lifetime occurance?
I've never heard a thing about it, or met anyone else who saw it other then the people who were there.
Regards
Steve Padula
My first thought was that it was one of the Meteors from the Perseid meteor Shower which peaks in mid August.
I have contacted a few Astronomy friends of mine who keep track of stuff like this, but none of them have any records of this happening. That doesn't mean that you didn't see a meteor, but just that my friends didn't!
Steve
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Answers by Expert:
Steven LJ Russo
Expertise
As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.
Experience
Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.
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