Expert: Tom Whiting - 3/12/2009

Question
Hello Tom,my name is .I've been in love with the heavens since childhood.On Oct.30 or 31st,1964 in Burlington, Vermont at twilight I witnessed a huge fireball cross the sky from [appox. east northeast and disappeared in the north northwest.It was appox.10 times larger than the sun to the eye,and was in our view for appox.6 minutes.The colors were mixed, and changing,mostly  mixed shades of yellow,orange red and some blues or grey. The fireball was wildly alive with plumes and bursting bubbles and spray.There was no real tail although as it passed out of visual range a faint glow could be seen. The strongest impression I had at the time was the clarity it seemed to be so close,I could distinctly see all the changes happening.I was 12 and greatly impressed,still am. I have spoken to others who were outside that evening and saw that passing fireball but could not find any information online that sounded at all the same. ANY ENLIGHTENMENT would be most appriciated. THANK YOU

Answer
Hi Ken,
That's 45 years ago, my records don't go back that far.  What you'd
have to do is research the local newspaper articles at various
libraries...probably stored on microfiche.  Sounds like you are
retired so you would have the time to do that.

The details sound like a very nice fireball, but the time duration,
IF the full 5 or 6 minutes, sounds MORE like an early artificial satellite re-entry.  (That stuff enters the atmosphere much much
slower velocity than a real "fireball").
Generally, real space junk fireballs don't last that long, but 2nd or 3rd stage rocket parts and satellites can survive that long while they burn up.  So I would look more for a confirmed artificial re-entry during that time frame, if I was researching it.  Also back then, a lot of satellites were being placed in very low earth orbits, so their orbit decayed fairly quickly.
That would be my guess....artificial piece of space junk coming
down from orbit...Just some thoughts.
Good Luck,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA