Expert: Tom Whiting - 11/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: Last evening, 11/21/09 at 6:00 PM

I was taking some compost to my compost pile. It was dark and my attention was draw to a very bright ball of light, just above the North East horizon. It was bright, steady for a few seconds. Too fast and bright for a plane. It was traveling from east to north.

I was paying attention to the local media for any other spottings.

Was I alone in spotting this?
Thanks

Jerry

ANSWER: No, in fact my last question was about this exact same meteor sighting at 6 pm on that date. That observer maintained a view for up to 10 seconds with a residual trail in the sky.
So you were not alone.  But I don't know why it didn't make the local media; probably too
many observers inside eating dinner?
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Tom. So I wasn't alone. I failed to mention that I am located near Bethlehem Pa. I just thought that it would show up in the press because it was bright. I would have to agree that it may have been about 10 seconds and it was bright with a trail.  Year ago I had seen a similar Meteor and what amazed me was the sound it made. That was reported in the local press.  Maybe this will get some air time.

Thanks again, so it wasn't my meds needing adjusting.

Answer
No, your meds are fine. It probably was walnut or softball sized. Somewhere on the Earth about
once a month.  (The average is a grain of sand size)....so it wasn't the 100 foot size that exploded over Tunguska Siberia on June 30, 1908 or the 1/10 mile rock that formed Meteor Crater in Arizona about 30,000 years ago, or the 6 mile wide dinosaur killer in the Yucatan Peninsula about 62 million years ago, ending the Cretaceous Period.
Clear Skies,
Tom
Erie, PA