(meteorobs) Updated Video of Bolide approach.

[Jim Pettit]

Chris--

You wrote: "...it's not completely clear to me if clouds are actually being
illuminated, or there's just a general increase in the background because of
scatter off the dome or lens elements. The light curve for the clouds and
surrounding, relatively clear sky somewhat support the latter." But my close
inspection of the video leads me to the opposite conclusion; were the
brightness near the top of the curve simply scatter off the camera or its
housing, one would expect all pixels to brighten equally. But that's not the
case; the  clouds--even those near the horizon--clearly gain brightness as
though lit from above, while the dark spaces between those clouds do not.
Too, the brightness of the clouds is more intense in the area immediately
surrounding the light source, just as one would expect from a bolide-like
light source. It's a pity the moon was there, as the effect would be much
easier to see... ;)

--Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org
[mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org] On Behalf Of Chris Peterson
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 1:55 AM
To: Global Meteor Observing Forum
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Updated Video of Bolide approach.

Hi Larry-

As I said, you may well have caught a fireball from an unusual angle. 
But without another viewpoint, or some witness reports, it's difficult 
to discount other possibilities. I don't find the light curve 
(http://www.cloudbait.com/misc/curve_object.gif) all that inconsistent 
with a helicopter spotlight; I've recorded similar. And it's not 
completely clear to me if clouds are actually being illuminated, or 
there's just a general increase in the background because of scatter off 
the dome or lens elements. The light curve for the clouds and 
surrounding, relatively clear sky somewhat support the latter.

Anyway, I'd like to think it's a fireball. You should put the word out 
in your area that there was a bright meteor, and see if any witnesses 
come forward.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <stange34 at sbcglobal.net>
To: <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 3:46 PM
Subject: (meteorobs) Updated Video of Bolide approach.


> Individual frame comparisons of this video characterize this bolide as
> nearly(if not the same) as most Bolides would be if the approaching 
> vertical
> intensity and light diameters were compared over time on a horizontal 
> time
> graph. Characterization is similar to a Bolide and not at all like a 
> cone
> shaped light source would be from landing light or a flood/spot light 
> from a
> helicopter, in addition to the illegal elevation the helicopter would 
> have
> to be to illuminate the entire cloud structure in a 360 degree field 
> of view
> at 15 degrees elevation. Landing lights of commercial aircraft are
> completely different as is the light cone and displacement over time.
>
> The similarities are coincident to a Bolide as viewed, (rarely if 
> ever)
> from a position in the direct path of an descenting fireball.
>
> Common imaging of a fireball approaching is not rare. Of a Bolide in 
> direct
> line with an observer would be unlike anything observed or filmed 
> before. I
> believe this is a UNIQUE captue of a rare event as a movie. URL is a 
> 1/3
> slowed down version of original HandyAvi recording without any photo
> massaging.
> http://www.geocities.com/stange34@sbcglobal.net/APPROACHING_BOLIDE.html
>
> Yuba City Sentinel

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