Possible MoCF over California 10/17/12

[QuantumLogic]

From the reports listed at the site below, it would seem there has been a mass sighting of a MoCF over California at approximately 7:45 PDT on 10/17/12. The amount of reports is rather striking. I searched for an article but as of this moment none has been published yet. A few witnesses stated they saw the general area where it came down. Here's the link-

http://thelatestworldwidemeteorreports.blogspot.com.au/

I'll continue to look for published articles in the morning if no one has found any by then.

 

[Mike]

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/17/4920403/fireball-seen-in-northern-california.html

Fireball seen in Northern California might be part of Orionid meteor shower

By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012 - 9:53 pm

Sightings of a fireball streaking through the sky have been reported this evening up and down the Central Valley and in the Bay Area.

"We've had a lot of calls about people who have seen a big fireball," said Stefanie Henry, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. "The speculation is that it's part of the Orionid meteor shower that peaks about Oct. 21."

People reported seeing the fireball between about 7:45 and 7:55 p.m. Henry said the reports were of a single fireball.

The cause of the fireball had not been confirmed, she said, and stressed that meteorologists are not experts on meteor showers.

An article from Astronomy Magazine on the website astronomy.com says the peak for this year's Orionid meteor shower is to occur during the night Saturday.

Orionid meteors originate from debris left behind by Halley's Comet during its passage through the solar system and are said to be among the fastest of all shower meteors, striking the earth's upper atmosphere at 148,000 mph.

 

[Mike]

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21798895/meteor-fireworks-leave-californians-stunned

Meteor fireworks leave Californians stunned

The Associated PressAssociated Press
Posted: 10/17/2012 11:36:23 PM PDT
October 18, 2012 10:0 AM GMTUpdated: 10/18/2012 03:00:27 AM PDT


OAKLAND, Calif.—Professional observers say streaking fireballs lighting up California skies and stunning stargazers are part of a major meteor shower, and the show is just getting started.
The Oakland Tribune (http://bit.ly/S4VDjB) says the exploding streaks were seen especially over the San Francisco Bay Area and other parts of Northern California, with reports of bright fireballs and loud booms from Santa Cruz County to Mendocino County.

National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson tells the Tribune that warm temperatures and cloud-free skies are making the bright lights more visible, a phenomenon that should only increase as the weekend approaches and the shower continues.

The fireballs are part of the large, fast Orionid meteor shower, so-named because it has the Orion constellation as a backdrop.

 

[QuantumLogic]

Thank you for finding and posting these, Bear. At least (for now) they are admitting what they are instead of concocting some ridiculous story. At this point it seems it is necessary to have as many documented accounts as possible in the wake of the obvious disinformation campaigns in Louisiana and Russia. Witness accounts and contradictory "official" reports are great tools for allowing those with an open mind to see where the real threat is coming from, osit.

 

[1984]

Very interesting bunch of videos - AND - one main stream news video goes so far as saying is was not related to the Orionids! http://www.sott.net/article/252533-Fragmentation-and-Sonics-Northern-California-Fireball-Meteor-19-42-PDT-17OCT2012-Unrelated-to-the-Orionids

 

[QuantumLogic]

Absolutely great report, 1984! I didn't know if this event was noteworthy enough for SOTT to have a report on it. The part about it possibly not being from the Orionids is very thought provoking. 2012- THE year of meteors, indeed.

 

[mcb]

Wow, something actually happened here in the "land of nothing happening." Thanks for the report!

I have had a feeling for a week or so that we might see a little activity of this kind. I think probably the culture out here is more comfortable with such things, and that it's OK for it to be in the news as long as it doesn't receive too much coverage.

The weather has been warm, more people than usual may have been outdoors, and it passed over densely populated areas, so it would have been hard to overlook.

I didn't notice anything myself, but I was indoors and the object doesn't appear to have come this far north anyway. I do wonder if it broke up or went out to sea or what.

 

[mcb]

By the way, this is showing up in the local news quite a bit and they seem to be sticking with the "Orionid" story. "Relax and enjoy the show."

 

[SeekinTruth]

These things just keep increasing. And it seems lately there are more fireballs over North America than anywhere else, at least that I'm aware of.

 

[theos]

These things just keep increasing. And it seems lately there are more fireballs over North America than anywhere else, at least that I'm aware of.

I agree. We can expect that these fireballs will start to get bigger and that there will be more impacts.

 

[findit]

I'll add to this thread that I saw a green fireball break up and disappear over Las Vegas, NV on 11/2/12 at 11:03PM. It happened very quickly with no sound.