Huge fireball over western Germany, 1 794 reports
A huge fireball has been observed streaking across the sky over western Germany at 16:48 UTC (17:48 CET) on November 14, 2017. The event lasted between 7 and 20 seconds, according to eyewitness reports.
The International Meteor Organization (IMO) received 1 794 reports by 22:00 UTC on November 15. The event was primarily seen from southwestern Germany but people from northern Switzerland, northeastern France and as far south as northern Italy also reported seeing the event.
IMO has so far received 2 photos and 3 videos of the event and is asking people who observed, recorded or photographed the event to submit their reports.
Video courtesy H. Bö (Germany), IMO
Video courtesy R.Z. (Germany), IMO
Video courtesy E. Lesage (France), IMO
Am Abend des 14.11.2017 flog ein #Meteorit bzw. #Sternschnuppe über #Homburg im #Saarland pic.twitter.com/pMhbQ9Zb55
— Feuerwehr Höchen (@FWHoechen) November 14, 2017
Western Germany fireball on November 14, 2017 as seen from Maselheim, Germany. Credit: S. Kobsa, IMO
Western Germany fireball on November 14, 2017 as seen from Schwarzenberg/Erzgebirge, Germany. Credit: R.Z., IMO
The trajectory displayed on the map below has been automatically computed based on all the witness reports and may not be the most optimized.
Western Germany fireball on November 14, 2017 – heatmap and preliminary trajectory. Credit: IMO
This event comes just 9 days after a very bright fireball exploded over northern Germany.
It was the first of four major fireball events within 10 hours on November 14 and 15, 2017. The object was traveling east to west and might be a part of the Taurid Meteor Shower.
With more than 1 790 reports by 22:10 UTC on November 15, this is the most reported fireball event from Europe since the AMS and the IMO launched the international version of the AMS fireball form. Translated into 31 languages, this form potentially allows the whole population of the globe to report such events.
Featured image: Western Germany fireball on November 14, 2017 as seen from Maselheim, Germany. Credit: S. Kobsa, IMO
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I saw the huge fireball fall right over my head in Meudt Germany at almost 6 PM.
I was walking in the park of Meudt listening to some music when suddenly I see the sky light up, I thought a storm was heading my way but I take my earphones off and looked up and see the big ball of fire strike down for a moment.
I quickly stood still and waited for anything else to happen till I finally heard a ‘boom’ seconds later.
I rush back to my house to warm my mother, she said she heard something as well and claims that the walls shook.
I wish I had a video or even a photo.
I am very happy that I was one of the few that got to see it. It was a very exciting moment for me. Really a once if a life time experience.
Thank you!! Have you reported it to IMO?