I was driving home tonight at around 21.45 hrs when I saw a orange glow out of the window. At first a thought it was a firework but it went on for too long. I pulled the car over and got out as it appeared to pass above me. It was probably the colour of a street light ( orange ) and appeared to have a haze behind it. As it passed over me and on into the distance the haze seemed to go. It was probably visible for around 8 – 10 min. The only thing I could think it could have been was a comet. Did anyone else see it or have any idea what it could be other than a comet ? Thanks in advance and a happy new year to all.
By: old shape - 6th January 2010 at 00:15
For closure…
Comets appear stationary in the sky. Movement can be seen on a day to day basis, or by a long viewing time.
Meteors flash through the sky in a second, not usually more than 20% of the sky is passed by one. Most meteors entering the atmos. are about the size of a Golf ball.
Fireballs are massive (1) meteors which last up to 20 seconds and are spectacular and colourful and sparkling. And scary, very scary when they are overhead as happened to me in 2008.
(1) Up to the size of a house as they enter but burn down to a fist size by the time they impact, or burn to nowt.
If you find a meteorite (Salt flats are a fave place) then keep it, as they are valuable to collectors (They pay Big bucks) and there could even be a diamond inside it.
By: Scott Marlee - 2nd January 2010 at 17:32
i saw it and thought it looked rather cool 🙂
By: BumbleBee - 2nd January 2010 at 17:06
Yesterday’s full moon was also a genuine ” blue Moon “,the name for the second full moon in a calendar month.
It certainly looked pretty spectacular down our way.
I was going to take some photos of it,but due to the effects of global warming it was far too cold to hang about outside.
By: Denis - 2nd January 2010 at 16:43
These are getting very popular. I have seen many over this festive period but do wonder about the (remote?) possiblity of causing a fire.
That link above states:
‘The lasting visual effect that you and your guest/friends will enjoy far outweighs that of a firework. Also, Sky Lanterns are silent so much more sociably acceptable and, as they can float for up to 15 miles’
So, They acknowledge that they can drift a fair distance then….
‘Do not launch in an area that could cause a fire such as near trees, crops and hay bales etc’.
Presumably as long as Farmer Giles’s haybarn or his near ripe wheatfield in high summer is out of vision, thats ok then:eek:
By: groundhugger - 2nd January 2010 at 14:03
Saw the chinese lanterns too , about twenty of them all in a long line , funny thing was they were all in a line on the approach to Manchester international airport , bet the duty controller was crapping his pants at that lot coming in !:eek:
By: Ren Frew - 1st January 2010 at 15:10
Who saw the partial eclipse of the moon last night?
I got in from work around 3am and wondered why the moon was looking so odd…
By: SOFTLAD - 1st January 2010 at 00:27
Grey thanks it appears you were right. Thanks for helping me get to the bottom of it.
Here is a link if anyone is wondering what im on about.
By: SOFTLAD - 1st January 2010 at 00:18
Now that would make sense as just seen another exactly the same but going in a diffrent direction so that has to rule out a comet. Are these things legal as it appeared to be at a pretty high as couldnt get binoculars to focus very well ?
By: Grey Area - 1st January 2010 at 00:13
It was probably one of those “Chinese lantern” hot air balloon thingies.
There are three of them drifting across the end of my road as I type this. 🙂
By: SOFTLAD - 31st December 2009 at 23:49
North West Leeds. Around 2 miles from Leeds Bradford airport.
By: Tony at BH - 31st December 2009 at 23:43
Where were you when you saw this?
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December 31, 2009 at 11:41 pm