Progression First, early reports, last, late reports

Subj: Florida meteors
Date: 11/11/99 7:00:33 AM Pacific Standard Time

From: zodiac1@bellsouth.net (joseph divito)

To: bardsquill@aol.com

Hey Kent , went out last nite 11\10\99 from 8 pm till 1 am looking for
meteors. we drove rather far into the florida nothing far away from city
lights and had a beautiful nite for observing. From 8 PM to 9 PM we
counted 12. 8 were from the Orions Belt area and the rest came out of
the big dippers pot. from 9 till 1 am we counted another 24, and more or
less missed the same number as some were faint and fast. On Tuesday
night in Gainesville, there was a huge fireball with a green trail as
thick as your hand, and across the entiresky! it must have been an
incoming Buick as it was as big as one. the Trail persisted for over 25
minutes , turnnig various colors but stayed in the green range. Love
that Plasma... Well pullin an all niter tonite , gonna video what Ican
too its so dark out here you literally can see satellites moving about,
and i watch the shuttle night takeoffs from 110 miles away and i can see
the shuttle enter orbit, and even see the boosters, way kewl at night.
Well later. reality calls

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Subj: Fwd: Re: (meteorobs) Re: Big Leonid Train Lit Up
Date: 11/11/99 7:30:23 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: fl_botomy@hotmail.com (Joseph DiVito)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

Hey Kent .. check ou t these first 2 links...nice pics

>From: B Yen
>Reply-To: meteorobs@jovian.com
>To: meteorobs@jovian.com
>Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Re: Big Leonid Train Lit Up
>Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 06:35:15 -0800
>
>This must be the Leonid (taken at Anza Borrego):
>
>http://www.skyphoto.com/comets/c23.htm
>
>I was also at Anza Borrego. This thing "flashed" real strong (saw it
>out of corner of my eye), & made me drop what I was doing. I pointed a
>still camera, & got this picture of the dissipating meteor-train:
>
>http://www.comet-track.com/meteor/leonids98/debris/debris_85.jpg
>
>I also pointed my low-light B&W video camera at it. I still have to go
>back and see what I got.
>
> Around 3-5 am activity picked up, and there were Leonids all over the
>sky. Lots of them in the west.
>
>
>
>Robert Lunsford wrote:
> >
> > Dave & All,
> >
> > I did in fact see this event. It was an extraordinarily bright fireball
> > which shot overhead toward the west and disappeared approximately half
> > way up in the western sky. I was facing east and nearly got whiplash
> > following the swift fireball as it shot behind me.
> >
> > The train lasted 11 minutes for me. It slowly became distorted, as most
> > enduring trains become, due to the high altitude winds. For me it slowly
> > faded into oblivion and as not seen again.
> >
> > It seems certain to me that Dave observed a train from another nearby
> > meteor as there were many bright Leonids seen that morning. Dave,
> > wouldn't you agree that this is a more likely scenario than having the
> > same train become re-lit?
> >
> > Bob Lunsford
> >
> > Dave English wrote:
> > >
> > > In a resent private e-mail I realized I never related that the
> > > big Leonid meteor on 16 Nov. '98, at 4h49m37sec, over San Diego
> > > County, California, left a huge train that got lit up with another
> > > meteor or perhaps an eletromagnetic discharge. All I can say is that
> > > after I couldn't detect the train anymore, it became instantly visible
> > > again several minutes later with light from within, just like a
> > > thunderhead. I've never asked George Zay if he saw the train light up
> > > too. He observes about fifty miles SE from me, so he may have seen a
> > > meteor enter it or may have missed it while plotting another meteor. I
> > > didn't see any sign of a meteor except for the "cloud" lighting up. Is
> > > it possible that the ionized cloud could have caused high altitude
> > > lighting?
> > >
> > > I would like to know what GZ would have to say and if Robert
> > > Lunsford may have seen this event. George did say this was a -16 to
> > > -19 magnitude meteor and that the train lasted for 8 1/2 minutes and
> > > the time listed was his. Either way, it was an unsual sighting.

>http://www.tiac.net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Fwd: (meteorobs) Edwards To Ferry NASA Scientists Around World In 8 Days ToStudy Leonids
Date: 11/11/99 7:21:41 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: fl_botomy@hotmail.com (Joseph DiVito)
To: bardsquill@aol.com=
>From: Ron Baalke
>Reply-To: meteorobs@jovian.com
>To: meteorobs@latrade.com
>Subject: (meteorobs) Edwards To Ferry NASA Scientists Around World In 8
>Days To Study Leonids
>Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 16:33:58 GMT
>
>Air Force News Service
>
>Released: 9 Nov 1999
>
>Edwards to ferry NASA scientists around world in 8 days to study Leonid
>By Ray Johnson, Air Force Flight Test Center Public Affairs
>
>EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- After a weak celestial show in
>1998, NASA's Peter Jenniskens dreamed of chasing Leonid meteor storms once
>again in 1999.
>
>"This will be our last shot at it for a century," he said after last year's
>effort. "The mission we have in mind would circle the world, and do that in
>just a few days."
>
>He's getting his wish with two Edwards airplanes: a modified KC-135 tanker
>called the Flying Infrared Signature Technology Aircraft, or FISTA, and an
>EC-18 that normally serves as an Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft,
>or ARIA.
>
>Both aircraft, which belong to the 452nd Flight Test Squadron, and 25
>airmen will ferry 50 scientists on an eight-day, 18,000-mile journey that
>will take them from the Mojave Desert to Europe to the Middle East and
>back.
>The researchers' intent: to gather data during a natural fireworks show
>called Leonid.
>
>A Leonid meteor shower occurs every November when Earth passes close to
>the orbit of comet Tempel-Tuttle. Usually not much happens, according to
>NASA officials. Earth plows through a diffuse cloud of old comet dust
>that shares Tempel-Tuttle's orbit, and debris burns up harmlessly in the
>atmosphere.
>
>Typical Leonid meteor events consist of only 10 to 20 shooting stars per
>hour. But every 33 years, that meek shower surges into a full-fledged
>storm, when thousands of shooting stars rain down from the sky hourly.
>
>That's what Jenniskens and his crew hope to witness on this trip.
>
>The two-ship formation leaves here Nov. 13 with the first stop being a
>"gas and go" at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., said Capt. Jeff Lampe,
>aircraft commander for FISTA. From there it's on to Royal Air Force
>Mildenhall, England, where they'll launch late Nov. 16 for a seven-hour
>mission to Tel Aviv, Israel, hoping to capture a streaking light display
>in clear, dark skies.
>
>The next night they will leave on their main flight, an eight-hour mission
>to Lajes Field, the Azores, a small island several hundred miles off the
>coast of Portugal. It's there scientists believe they will follow a trail
>of thousands to tens of thousands of meteors per hour.
>
>On this route, the two Edwards planes will fly 100 miles parallel to each
>other, giving researchers "an almost stereoscopic (three-dimensional)
>viewing," said Maj. Tracy Phelps, commander of the EC-18.
>
>Finally, the team will fly another seven-hour mission from Lajes to Patrick
>AFB, Fla., Nov 18-19, and then return home Nov. 20.
>
>With powerful telescopes scattered throughout the world, some people might
>wonder why take such a time-consuming trip. The answer: Only an airborne
>mission can bring scientists to the right place at the right time to view
>Leonid, and guarantee clear weather. Moreover, using both the FISTA and
>C-18 allows scientists to measure meteor trajectories and orbits in space
>along with triangulating data.
>
>Indeed, this mission centers on two Edwards aircraft serving as observation
>platforms for cameras and investigative instruments. Therefore, both planes
>have undergone modifications for the journey, including installation of
>optical windows, special camera gear and antenna mounts.
>
>And besides helping collect data for NASA, the C-18 also will downlink
>real-time video for Air Force Space Command.
>
>Capt. Jon Haser participated in last year's Leonid event and will be going
>again this year. He said the crews didn't get the expected meteor storm.
>
>"It was sporadic, but they were some persistent trails that lasted five
>seconds or so. Hopefully, the sky's alive this time."
>
>Maybe he will get to witness what James Young of the Jet Propulsion
>Laboratory's California Table Mountain Observatory did in 1966, when the
>last great Leonid storm occurred. He remembers a heaven "absolutely full"
>of meteors. Young called it a "sight never imagined ... and never seen
>since."
>
>IMAGE CAPTIONS: [http://www.af.mil:80/news/Nov1999/n19991109_992056.html]
>
>[Image 1]
>An EC-18 aircraft from the 452nd Flight Test Squadron, Edwards Air Force
>Base, Calif., will transport NASA scientists overseas to study the Leonid
>meteor storm. The EC-18, which normally serves as an Advanced Range
>Instrumentation Aircraft, or ARIA, also will downlink real-time information
>to Air Force Space Command during the storm. (Courtesy photo)
>
>[Image 2]
>
>Capt. Jamie McKeon, left, Capt. Jon Hasser, Capt. Jeff Lampe and Maj. Tracy
>Phelps plan the 452nd Flight Test Squadron's eight-day mission for the
>Leonid meteor shower. The Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., unit is flying
>NASA scientists overseas to study the Leonid meteor storm in modified EC-18
>and KC-135 aircraft. (Photo by Dennis Taylor)
>
>To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
>http://www.tiac.net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html

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Subj: U.F.O.
Date: 11/11/99 8:17:28 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: mustang@netsense.net (Joseph Gaethofs)
Reply-to: mustang@netsense.net
To: phikent@aol.com

I am trying to get this posted on orbit but had no Email address so i
will try this. I have book marks of live cameras of Volcanos. This
morning I saw a great shot on camera of a Saucer shape U.F.O. at the
Mt. Colima Volcano. The time was 8:33:44Seconds 11Nov 1999 There are
about seven other shots at different times after but no U.F.O So it must
have been taken as it was passing by.It was a great shot of it between
the camera and the Mountain. I have no camera that i could have taken a
picture of it. The only way that other people may see it is to get in
touch wit the people who have the camera that points to the Mountain.
From Oct to this time in Nov. there is a flap going on in italy Etna
Vesuvious and Stromboli. Someone shut the cameras off around 26th of
Oct until today 11Th Nov 1999.From what i here the U.F.O.s were flying
around the Mountains. Who shut the Cameras off and what was it they did
not want us to see? You may Post this if you can get this to orbit.
jgaethofs@netsense.net

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11/11/99 6:25:35 PM Pacific Standard Time

Max Poggi just reported that he photographed a long white trail that he feels was left by a meter last night...Nov10 over his home outside of Rome. He said it was white, pretty long and lasted 20 minutes. He asked about the hoagland prediction. Captain Max Poggi is an AlItalia Pilot' Jumbo Rome- New york . He will let you all see the photos as soon as his new Internet provider puts him ON LINE again. What else is being seen_ Paola harris Rome

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Heavenly fireball puzzles Volusia County residents

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Subj: objects in Nightsky in Honolulu, Hawaii
Date: 11/12/99 7:55:01 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: sonk1111@excite.com (Son K Yongtae)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

For about the better part of 3 years on certain dark nights, I observe what
can only be described as flashy bright objects that seem to change color
RED/GREEN/BLUE. They are stationary and not always so visible. Lately they
have been vivid along with 2 stars or planets that are both bright and
luminescent and large as to 1st appearing to be a moving object flashing
like a neon sign bright off-white. The time to really see all of it is
around 4:30AM-5:30AM HST. Are the RGB objects satellites and if no then
what. Strangely before seeking info. I became an insomniac that looks into
the sky where I was tuned out for years of even looking up to even see the
stars once in a while. Occasionally I may go 2 or 2 1/2 days without sleep
and that's when the fun begins. Objects flying I perceive as hovering other
times I can perceive the skyOcean and sense where to look and always
something odd is there to notice. One last note, I take walks quite often
and more times then not the 60 MHZ Powerlines are hissing like a beehive,
this sound has ambiance and can be heard throughout the neighborhood while
walking down the street as a persistent energetic buzzing and hissing,
pulsing. Strange Daze indeed!! I'd appreciate any comments you might have
regarding the aforementioned. Mahalo

--------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: BINGO!
Date: 11/12/99 1:37:59 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: pronk@cyberhighway.net (Laurie Huff)
To: bardsquill@aol.com (Kent Steadman)

Hey,
Well, Im not so dissapointed with the linearids anymore. Just out doing yard work 15 min ago, fairly small rock (I thought it was a plane until I got out the binocs) moving from N.E. to S.W. over S.W. Idaho. the tail was short, and came to a distinct point, brown orange in color right behind the object and surrounded by white, with a distinct bright white glow just on the front of it. It really looked like a plane till I looked closer with the binoculars.
Yee Haa.
Laurie

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Subj: possible meteor sighting
Date: 11/13/99 8:41:12 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: mvolz@mediaone.net (mike volz)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

traveling on rte #47, 5 miles north of morris Il. approx. 4:45 central
time.
the group I was traveling with observed a streaking object in the
western sky. It was traveling from east to west. the sun was at about
25 degrees.
This object was at about 35 degrees. A tail about half the width of my
thumb (arm fully extended) We observed object with binoculars. The
object appeared white with the setting sun as it's back drop. We
observed this object for at least two to three minutes as it disappeared
into the horizon.

mike volz

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-----------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Kenny Young: Regarding that fireball seen last night.
Date: 11/17/99 6:51:14 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: Rubie2zDay
To: BARDSQUILL
CC: Phikent

Kenny Young info is below my little editorial here. ;)
I noticed you have the email, below, from the 10th, your site. Do you think it's possible this could be the same object or, at least, the same type object? It appears to be travelling in the same direction and it did give the appearance of a comet. Could these 'fireballs', seen recently, be pieces of space junk which were knocked down by meteors during the showers? The fireball seen on the 10th would have coincided with the Taurids and Linearids meteor showers and the one last night with the Leonids.

EMAIL, 11/10/99 8:31:06 AM Pacific Standard Time: On the 11:00 news last night on channel 8 news they reported that a "comet" was seen between 9 and 10 pm by many people who called in. It was reported to be very sizable and had a significant tail and was traveling east toward the Smokey Mountains. I am sure it was a meteor, and was apparently quite a sight.

And now on to Kenny....
---------------------
From: Kenny Young
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 20:30:12 -0500
Fwd Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 03:06:33 -0500
Subject: Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati Sightings

As of the assembling of this note, newsrooms all across this
area are being flooded with calls of concern regarding an
unusual aerial spectacle seen in the Northern
Kentucky/Cincinnati vicinity.

One witness to the incident, a resident of Cincinnati, informed
this reporter that shortly after 7:00 p.m. while traveling
northbound on Interstate 75 from the Florence, Kentucky entrance
ramp, that he and his wife observed two "rows of lights"
traveling in formation. This formation, he informed, was "way
too wide to be any airplane."

He suspected this to be an Air Force formation of jets that had
flown low over the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.

The duration of the sighting was between 30 to 45-seconds.

A group of lights on the "left portion" detached and 'moved
away' from the larger formation, the witness informed. All the
lights disappeared together, into the distance.

In response to this credible report of a large object or group
of objects sighted in the Florence, Kentucky vicinity, a call
was placed to the newsroom of 700 WLW radio [Cincinnati. The
receptionist informed that hundreds of people had seen this
spectacle, and within the last few minutes, it had been
explained as a "meteor."

The explanation, he informed, came from the airport [whose
control tower, according to the motorist, would have had a
clear, full view of the oddity] and also from "scientists,"
whose names were not at his disposal.

The oddity was seen from Indianaopolis, Indiana to Paducah,
Kentucky.

We'll try to stay alert for any further information on this
strange situation and keep you posted when able.

KENNY YOUNG
8:24 p.m. November 16, 1999
--
UFO Research
http://home.fuse.net/ufo/
-----------------
The newsroom of WLWT Channel 5 [NBC] was contacted, and the
employee in the news department informed that their station has
been flooded with calls regarding the unusual sighting in the
skies around 7 p.m.

"We don't have a good explanation for what happened," he said.
"At first, we thought it was part of the meteor shower, but then
we talked to a University of Cincinnati astronomer who told us
that he doesn't think this was a meteor. He thinks it was part
of an old satellite which has dropped out of orbit."

When asked how this information is being received in the
newsroom, he said: "People all over the tri-state have called."

"Some callers informed that part of the object broke off from
the main formation, and it looked like this was some kind of
debris." [Note: this is consistant with earlier eyewitness
interview]

The employee at the newsroom informed that people all across the
Greater Cincinnati area have been calling 9-1-1 stations in each
of their respective communities.

"The response to this is really sensational," he said. "We're
going to run this news story at 11, in the first block."

Filed:
Nov. 16, 1999
8:40 p.m.
Kenny Young
----------------
Meteorologist Tim Hedrick was again interviewed live on 700 WLW
radio, and informed that his sighting took place at 7:03 or 7:04
p.m.

The "object," as he described, was traveling from west to east,
and looked like some sort of aircraft, like a semi-truck with
'green flames' shooting out of it.

John Venture of the observatory informed this was not part of
the Leonids.

Tim Hedrick informed that a Lafayette, Indiana television
station has videotape of this, and his station, WKRC Channel 12
[CBS] in Cincinnati, will try to gain this video from Lafayette
for use on their 11:00 p.m. newscast tonight. They hope to get
the signal via satellite.

9:55 p.m.
November 16, 1999
--
UFO Research
http://home.fuse.net/ufo/
-----------------
Paul wrote:

>It could still be a bolide, but in any case, it should make
>for a good video and pictures. I hope someone got it.

Paul:

In the last half-hour I have been listening to News Radio 700
WLW, and this sighting is all they are talking about. On the
Bill Cunningham program, his guest is Bill Boshears, host of
Sci-Zone radio program. Boshears also saw the oddity, and
described a 'flash' before the object appeared. He said the
sighting was "spooky."

WKRC Channel 12 [CBS] Meteorologist Tim Hedrick was interviewed
extensively on the 9:30 p.m. newscast, and recounted his
sighting of what he initially presumed to be a 'burning
aircraft.' He also told of a greenish glow in the sky.

They are taking many phone calls, and they are liberally
entertaining the theory that this sighting was caused by a UFO.

Needless to say, it's really exciting around here right now.

KY
--
UFO Research

Info above found at:
m17-001.shtml at www.ufomind.com
http://www.ufomind.com/cgi-bin/maillist-today.cgi?file=/ufo/updates/1999/nov/m17-001.shtml

------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Fireball over Cleveland
Date: 11/17/99 6:05:02 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: tomt.iodata@mindspring.com (Tom Tont)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

Last night (11/16) I sat down to watch some news around 7:15 EST and what looked to be a roman candle was streaking across the sky. It was moving West to East and took about 25 seconds to disappear on the horizon. As it was crossing over Cleveland, it seemed to break up a bit leaving what looked like sparks and 3-4 pieces trailing behind it. Very cool sight. The local news said "many people called to say they saw something and what they saw was the Leonid meteor shower". Just goes to show what these guys know. Only one meteorologist - Cleveland's ABC affiliate, said he thought it was a piece of "space junk". He pointed out that a streak like that is not what a meteor shower would produce. Bravo, at least one person is knowledgeable enough to know the difference. I wonder if our local NASA base had anything on it? Anybody else see it? I also wonder if a piece of space junk coming back to earth would leave the dark streaks on the images you post on your site. Any thoughts?

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Subj: [Fwd: CAUS Bulletin: Major UFO Event Tuesday Night]
Date: 11/17/99 4:29:48 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: shrews@home.com (Bob Shrewsbury-Gee)
To: bardsquill@aol.com (Kent Steadman)

Kent:

These reports ditto mine to you.

Shrews

UFO REPORTs
Major UFO Event - Tuesday Night, November 16, 1999

CAUS thanks Peter B. Davenport (ufocntr@NWLINK.COM) for this report:

The National UFO Reporting Center has received an estimated 80-100 reports
numerous eastern states tonight. We have been on the telephone for almost 3
hours receiving reports, and we have received approximately 50 reports over
our website
regarding tonight's events.

Reports have come in from the following states: WI, MI, OH, IN, IL, KY,
TN, NY, WV, GA, and Washington, D.C.. The reports are widely variable,
ranging from single, slow-moving fireballs, to formations of up to a dozen
or more objects in seemingly precise formation.

In addition, we have received reports from two FAA facilities, indicating
that multiple flight crews have seen extremely bizarre objects and
formations in the night sky.

To the best of our knowledge, most of the sightings occurred between 1900
and 1910 hrs. (EST), although one sighting was reported from Georgia for
approximately 90 minutes later.

We do not yet know what may explain these sightings, but they do not
appear compatible with either a meteoritic event, or a space debris
re-entry event.

I have to run...the phone is ringing again already.

this appears to be the most dramatic event I have handled in five years at
NUFORC. However, we do not know yet what is causing the sightings.

CAUS thanks Kenny Young (ufo@FUSE.NET) for these reports:

1) KENNY YOUNG 8:24 p.m. November 16, 1999 -- UFO Research
http://home.fuse.net/ufo/

As of the assembling of this note, newsrooms all across this area are
being flooded with calls of concern regarding an unusual aerial spectacle
seen in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati vicinity.

One witness to the incident, a resident of Cincinnati, informed this
reporter that shortly after 7:00 p.m. while traveling northbound on
Interstate 75 from the Florence, Kentucky entrance ramp, that he and his
wife observed two "rows of lights" traveling in formation. This formation,
he informed, was "way too wide to be any airplane."

He suspected this to be an Air Force formation of jets that had flown low
over the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.

The duration of the sighting was between 30 to 45-seconds.

A group of lights on the "left portion" detached and 'moved away' from the
larger formation, the witness informed. All the lights disappeared
together, into the distance.

In response to this credible report of a large object or group of objects
sighted in the Florence, Kentucky vicinity, a call was placed to the
newsroom of 700 WLW radio [Cincinnati. The receptionist informed that
hundreds of people had seen this spectacle, and within the last few
minutes, it had been explained as a "meteor."

The explanation, he informed, came from the airport [whose control tower,
according to the motorist, would have had a clear, full view of the
oddity] and also from "scientists," whose names were not at his disposal.

The oddity was seen from Indianaopolis, Indiana to Paducah, Kentucky.

We'll try to stay alert for any further information on this strange
situation and keep you posted when able.

2) Filed: Nov. 16, 1999 8:40 p.m. Kenny Young -- UFO Research
http://home.fuse.net/ufo/

The newsroom of WLWT Channel 5 [NBC] was contacted, and the employee in
the news department informed that their station has been flooded with
calls regarding the unusual sighting in the skies around 7 p.m.

"We don't have a good explanation for what happened," he said. "At first,
we thought it was part of the meteor shower, but then we talked to a
University of Cincinnati astronomer who told us that he doesn't think this
was a meteor. He thinks it was part of an old satellite which has dropped
out of orbit."

When asked how this information is being received in the newsroom, he
said: "People all over the tri-state have called."

"Some callers informed that part of the object broke off from the main
formation, and it looked like this was some kind of debris." [Note: this
is consistant with earlier eyewitness interview]

The employee at the newsroom informed that people all across the Greater
Cincinnati area have been calling 9-1-1 stations in each of their
respective communities.

"The response to this is really sensational," he said. "We're going to run
this news story at 11, in the first block."

3) 9:55 p.m. November 16, 1999 -- UFO Research http://home.fuse.net/ufo/

In the last half-hour I have been listening to News Radio 700 WLW, and
this sighting is all they are talking about. On the Bill Cunningham program,
his guest is Bill Boshears, host of Sci-Zone radio program. Boshears also
saw the oddity, and described a 'flash' before the object appeared. He
said the sighting was "spooky."

WKRC Channel 12 [CBS] Meteorologist Tim Hedrick was interviewed
extensively on the 9:30 p.m. newscast, and recounted his sighting of what
he initially presumed to be a 'burning aircraft.' He also told of a greenish
glow in the sky.

They are taking many phone calls, and they are liberally entertaining the
theory that this sighting was caused by a UFO.

Needless to say, it's really exciting around here right now.

Meteorologist Tim Hedrick was again interviewed live on 700 WLW radio, and
informed that his sighting took place at 7:03 or 7:04 p.m.

The "object," as he described, was traveling from west to east, and looked
like some sort of aircraft, like a semi-truck with 'green flames' shooting
out of it.

John Venture of the observatory informed this was not part of the Leonids.

Tim Hedrick informed that a Lafayette, Indiana television station has
videotape of this, and his station, WKRC Channel 12 [CBS] in Cincinnati,
will try to gain this video from Lafayette for use on their 11:00 p.m.
newscast tonight. They hope to get the signal via satellite.

4) 10:29 p.m. Kenny Young -- UFO Research http://home.fuse.net/ufo/

For what its worth, the 'meteor report' has taken a strange turn with some
additional information. Oh boy, whatever.

According to a caller to the Bill Cunningham show on 700 WLW, a Hanover
Township fire department officials informed a resident of Millville that
Wright Patterson AFB had detonated a missile which had been inadvertently
launched. This was alleged to have been reported to Hanover Township Fire
Department officials via their radio.

Bill Cunningam then informed that the object, first reported from
Nebraska, would have to have been an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile,
being launched from that area.

This was somewhat curious, and was information which could be 'followed-
up' on. A call was placed to the Hanover Township fire department, non-
emergency telephone line, and the receptionist at the station verified the
claims made by the caller to 700 WLW.

The person who handled the call gave his name upon request, but his name
will not be referenced in this report for privacy concerns. He conveyed
how they were informed that a missile was accidentally launched and was
destroyed [in some capacity] by Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The
officer informed that he was unaware of the source of this story, but that
it was "Probably something heard over the radio, and not over two-way."

He said that this was "some kind of rumor," and when pressed for
additional information, was either unable or unwilling to list a source
for this information or a radio station/channel.

The officer did verify that the caller to 700 WLW was accurate in his
recollection that Hanover Township fire department officials were openly
discussing the theory that this was a missile which had been destroyed.

CAUS thanks Mark Andrews (ufo1128@webtv.net) for this report:

This will probably be one of many many reports that will come to you
regarding a very large fireball that flew over the South side of Indianapolis
this evening 11-16 - 99 at around 7 PM.

The local media is bending over backwards to try to convince us that
it was actually a precursor to the Leonid meteor shower.

These points need to be considered.

1. It was reported to be as low as 100 feet above the ground.

2. It traveled West to East.

3. It was reported to have emitted several colors and to have changed color
repeatedly.

4. Many saw up to three smaller objects following closely behind.

5. Some of the descriptions used the words "massive" and
"awsome". "The most beautiful thing I've ever seen". Meteors do not inspire
such adjectives.

6. The object literally stopped traffic in a major city.

7. Some have estimated the speed of the ojbect as at around 100 mph.

8. It was visible for up to 15 minutes.

9. Had the above described object been a meteor, I and 2,000,000 other
people would be dead right now.

Well that's about it for now.

Peter A. Gersten
Director

--------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Just a thought...
Date: 11/16/99 10:54:36 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: hghost@cts.com (P. Roberts)
Reply-to: hghost@cts.com
To: bardsquill@aol.com

Hey Kent,

I just wanted to float a thought at you and the rest of the visitors to
Orbit.

Could it be that someone[s] knew that in the grand cycle of things,
November 16-18, 1999 would be a time of many (UFO) sightings in the
sky. So to keep a large number of people from heading outside to watch
said "meteor storm", only a few days warning was given.

Plausible denial of anything strange has already been set in place by
the mere 5-7 day prior notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Fwd: RE: (meteorobs) Fantastic Fireball -- 7PM Indiana Time -- Nov. 16 th
Date: 11/16/99 9:28:48 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: fl_botomy@hotmail.com (Joseph DiVito)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

>From: bruce_musson@dofasco.ca
>Reply-To: meteorobs@jovian.com
>To: meteorobs@jovian.com
>Subject: RE: (meteorobs) Fantastic Fireball -- 7PM Indiana Time -- Nov. 16
>th
>Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 21:38:47 -0500
>
>Hey, I just posted a sighting, then read this. There was nothing posted
>when I started typing!
>I'm in southern ontario, a few miles south of Lake Ontario... and my
>brother
>and others witnessed it traversing the southern sky... from west to east
>(can't be a Leonid ) !
>What direction was your sighting ?
>Bruce - Ancaster, Ontario.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: NthWhovian@aol.com [SMTP:NthWhovian@aol.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 8:43 PM
> > To: meteorobs@jovian.com
> > Subject: (meteorobs) Fantastic Fireball -- 7PM Indiana Time -- Nov.
> > 16th
> >
> >
> > Heading north on SR 31 north of Indianapolis, our family saw a fantastic
> > fireball you may already be discussing on this list. It was 7PM, and my
> > brother-in-law about two hours further north saw it as clearly as we
>did.
> >
> > The bright ball moved across the sky in a brilliant white, starting like
>a
> >
> > glowing orb, then getting a long white tail mixed with blue and orange
> > fire.
> > My brother-in-law also observed green. It stayed in the sky for a good
> > two
> > minutes and then appeared to break up on the other side of the sky,
> > looking
> > like glowing orange embers floating in the air as the bright white faded
> > away.
> >
> > It was observed by so many people in Indiana that it made the next news
> > break
> > of the major AM talk radio station in Indianapolis. They declared the
> > start
> > of the Leonids.
> >
> > I have seen a number of meteor showers as a casual observer over the
>last
> > twenty or so years. I have seen some nice fireballs, but never, ever
> > anything as impressive as this.
> >
> > Did anyone outside of Indiana observe this as well?
> >
> >
> > S. Hicks

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: wow it was awesome
Date: 11/16/99 8:27:22 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: RAPTUREBOUND@webtv.net (elisabeth giles)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

At approximately 7:00PM est,i was pulling in the court where i live when
i saw something out of the corner of my eye.I turned to look at it and
could not believe it...It was a massive blue fireball,The tail on that
thing was real long and flames shooting everywhere.IT was the most
incredible thing i had ever seen.

I had pulled up in front of a neighbors house and began blowing my horn
furiously so they could see it too,the elittle girl ran out and saw it
with me.I thene raced home and called my mom in michigan,by the way i am
in cinc ohio.She answered the phone full of excitement she had saw the
same thing!!!!!I then called the local police and she had recieved
thousands of calls.I then surfed some mesage boards and people in
mich,wisconsin,indiana had saw it all at the same time.....I have read
about these but i finally saw one!!!!!!!!!!it was beautiful

elisabeth giles

----------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: [Fwd: Nov. 16, 1999 - afternoon Weather Channel]
Date: 11/16/99 8:26:16 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: flash@toledolink.com (flash)
To: bardsquill@aol.com (bardsquill@aol.com)

THIRD REPORT OF LARGE FIREBALL ---FLASHdp

Good Evening, Brother,

Wish I knew how to send you the pictures; but this afternoon Weather Channel
was showing Hurricane Lenny. They were saying how that it was making
recorded history as being the only hurricane to come from that direction ever
(going from the west to the east). Isn't it curious that when they showed
the infrared pictures of the cloud movement, that a weird black line shot out
right close to the hurricane from the east? Also, some weird black flashing
circular movements from the direction of the north or outer space. Can't say
which. Also, noticed some smoking guns out near all the mess they have been
having on the west coast. MY MY!!!!

Also, wanted to tell you that my husband and daughter saw either a large
meteor shower or a fireball tonight in the south sky traveling from the west
toward east. They were very excited to have seen it. It trailed orange
through the sky with a blueish tail. Wish I could have seen it. Also, it
had many fragments trailing along behind it. What do ya know?

Have a fine evening.

See you here, There, or in the air, but keep looking up! Jesus is coming
soon. Even so, come quickly LORD JESUS.

Night. Thel.

---------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Another fireball?
Date: 11/16/99 8:19:21 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: mdudley@execonn.com (Marshall Dudley)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

Subject:
Re: I saw a Fireball Tonight
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 22:59:19 -0500
From: FBrinson
Organization: A very small box of papers
Newsgroups: alt.astronomy
References: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

I don't think it could possibly be the same one but... I saw it (one)
too!! I
live in richmond VA and I was travelling north on I-95 just beginning to
exit
the interstate when I saw an orange ball coming from the northwest and
heading
towards the east-north-east. I thought it was a plane or helicopter but
then I
noticed the two balls following it at the same speed and direction. As
the
fireballs flew towards the east all three could plainly be seen trailing
sparks
or a tail. The two trailing fireballs slowly dimmed and disappeared but
the
large one continued on until it passed behind some trees. It was
absolutely
amazing! The whole process took approximately 15-20 seconds! I almost
wrecked my
car off the ramp trying to roll my window down, sticking my head out and
trying
to negotiate the off-ramp. I got home and sat on my back porch hoping
for more
but nothing else... oh, the time was somewhere between 7:00 pm and 7:15
not too
sure of the exact time I was too blown away to remember to check the
clock.. I
heard nothing about it on the radio which is strange.

----------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Fireball over Indiana and Ohio tonight
Date: 11/16/99 7:58:03 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: mdudley@execonn.com (Marshall Dudley)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

You might be interested in this bunch of messages in the alt.astronomy
newsgroup:

Subject: I saw a Fireball Tonight
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 19:43:46 -0500
From: Me
Newsgroups: alt.astronomy

Hello all,
Tonight at approx. 7:05pm EST I saw a fireball tracking from west to
east. I am not even an amateur astronomer so bear with me.
I live in Carmel, IN, just north of Indianapolis. I actually live in
the SW corner of Carmel approx. at Michigan Rd and 106th St.
I am 41 years old and not prone to panic but.....this thing was the
single brightest object I have ever seen in the night sky, except for
the 1/2 moon that was out. It was trailing a long tail with
intermittent fireballs in the tail...looked like a firework. It
traveled at least 1/2 the sky before I lost view due to it passing
behind my house. I was actually sitting in my hot tub.
The only thing that makes me unsure of what I saw was the speed. I
remember it taking long enough for me to notice and said to my self
"what is that" twice and I think I started to get up out of the hot
tub before it passed out of sight.
I did not hear any crashes or hear any motors; perhaps it was man
made....whatever it was I have not seen anything like it before.
Any ideas?
Doug

Subject: Re: I saw a Fireball Tonight
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 01:33:25 GMT
From: starfox@bright.net (STARFOX)
Organization: bright.net Ohio
Newsgroups: alt.astronomy
References: 1

I don't know what it was, but I saw it too! I live in North West
Ohio, near Toledo. Just after 7pm EST I had just walked outside on
my way to the garage, when I spotted it low in the western(west by
south-west, I'd say) sky. It was extremely bright white and it had
intermittent 'sparks' trailing it. As I watched, it became brighter
and brighter and more and more orange 'sparks' trailed behind it.
After it reached it's highest point, relative to me(Which was about
75 degrees off the Northern horizon, I'd say) It began to break up.
As it proceeded east, it began to dim and there was more and more
'sparks' trailing it... The last I saw of it was low in the Eastern
sky. It was in about 5 separate pieces at that point.

So, to sum up...
-It was very bright and very white.
-I watched it travel nearly a full 180 degrees across the sky, from
West to East.
-I'd estimate it took about 20 seconds or so to cross the sky.
-It had intermittent 'sparks' trailing it.
-At about the half way point across the sky, it started to really
break up.

Some other people around here saw it to, because there have already
been reports on the radio about it. And it's being said it's part of
the big meteor shower going on. But I doubt that, because the radiant
of the Leonids is suppose to be in the Eastern sky, not the West.

My guess is it was either just a sporadic meteor or ,by the way it acted

and looked, more likely space junk re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.
Either way, it was very cool!!! And it certainly has gotten me hyped
for the Leonids peak tomorrow night... I'll be outside watching the
eastern sky from 11pm to 4 am...

Kevin M. (aka: STARFOX) starfox@bright.net
http://www.starfox.simplenet.com/index.html

Subject: Re: I saw a Fireball Tonight
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 21:06:30 -0500
From: "Bart"
Organization: MindSpring Enterprises
Newsgroups: alt.astronomy
References: 1 , 2

I saw it too. It was about 7:05 EST. I was traveling north on 271
(just
south of 480) toward Cleveland, Ohio, when this bright object caught my
eye.
It only took a fraction of a second to remember that this was meteor
season.
I got an incredible view of it as it passed directly in front of me
across
the sky - perpendicular to my direction of travel - easily 15 to 20 or
more
seconds before I lost sight of it. It was so close and slow that I had
to
slow down to 40 mph to keep it in sight before me. Bright white ball
with a
blue glow and golden tail of sparks. It split into 5 or 6 other
sections
with the largest still in the lead. The smaller sections burned up and
the
larger portion continued to brake into white, blue, and gold pieces as
it
traveled East. Really awesome!

This was only the second of such a sighting (not counting Hale-Bopp).
The
last time was down in Florida (several years ago) when a fireball shot
straight overhead from behind me as I was facing West at dusk (the sky
was
still lit). It was really awesome too, and seemed to travel at a much
higher rate of speed (probably because of my point of view). It was
greenish and lit up the clouds as it passed as a single ball and then
broke
into pieces in the distance.

Bart

Subject: Re: I saw a Fireball Tonight
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 21:41:03 -0500
From: "Les"
Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com
Newsgroups: alt.astronomy
References: 1 , 2 , 3

WOW this is great !!! I live in Defiance, Ohio NW corner of Ohio and was

walking out to my van when something caught my eye. I thought at first
that
it was a plane with its landing lights on. When I looked up I saw the
best
bottle rocket show since the 4th of July. Glad I was not alone.

Les

Subject: Re: I saw a Fireball Tonight
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 21:49:36 -0500
From: "Ed Ewbank"
Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com
Newsgroups: alt.astronomy
References: 1 , 2 , 3

I saw it too from just north of Cincinnati. A large fireball,
travelling
west to east, breaking apart into several pieces. But going the wrong
direction for a Leonid.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: midwest observation
Date: 11/16/99 7:32:36 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: mvolz@mediaone.net (mike volz)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

Kent,
In the midwest (Suburbs of chicago @30 miles nw) reports are coming in
to authorities of an object seen in the night sky. This was just
reported on WGN news. The object was observed throughout the area. A
college observatory that was setting up to observe the showers later in
the evening witnessed the event and was interviewed by the news. A video
was taken. The man interviewed at the college (triton college) felt it
was to early in the evening for it to be part of the Linearids or
Leonids. plus he said it was moving in the wrong direction. The video
showed a series of balls in a line . They said the colors were
spectacular. The newscaster said, "it was probable a piece of space junk
or disintegrating satellite".

----------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: [Fwd: Fireball....]
Date: 11/16/99 7:31:23 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: flash@toledolink.com (flash)
To: bardsquill@aol.com (bardsquill@aol.com)

KENT I JUST GOT THIS REPORT ----FLASHdp

Was just wondering if by chance you caught the fireball that streaked
over the midwest this evening at 6:05pm CST. I'm up in north east
Wisconsin. Just received word from a friend on the Illinois/Wisconsin
border that she saw it to.

Just wondering.

Thanks,
Soni

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Meteor Confirmed: Madison, WI USA
Date: 11/16/99 5:58:38 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: bill.spuhler@doit.wisc.edu (Bill Spuhler)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

Hello Kent,
I'm making this quick. Having trouble getting through to you tonight.
I saw the meteor as it descended over Madison, Wisconsin USA,
tonight at about 6:05pm CST.
Bright Green Fireball with a White Tail, eventually splitting up
into several Red fragments. Local TV station WKOW reported
it on their Doppler Radar. They hope to have video on their 10:00pm
news tonight. (www.wkowtv.com).

Ask for Bob Lindmeier. He's a Straight-Shooter. Good Guy.
Gotta go before my link does.
All the Best to you, Kent.

Bill

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subj: meteor
Date: 11/16/99 4:40:42 PM Pacific Standard Time
ANON
To: bardsquill@aol.com

Hi
Please with hold name. I was facing south in Forest
Park Ill, about 5 miles west of Chicago right on 290.
The time was 6.13 pm and out of the southwest not to
high in the sky, was a green meteor. It was the size
of a bowling ball and as green any thing I have ever
seen. It was heading north east. It was so close
that you could see the shock rings in the tail. I
believe that it was heading for the lake. The one
thing I found strange was that it had a kind of flat
trejectory.
Thanks
---------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Green Fireball
Date: 11/16/99 4:12:53 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: soni@itol.com (Sue)
To: bardsquill@aol.com

I don't know if this is part of the Leonids or not, but at 6:05PM CST,
my husband and I just saw a large green fireball with a long white tail.
Traveling west to east low on the southern horizon. We are in NE
Wisconsin. Approx 45N 89W.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Soni

----------------------------------------------------------

Subj: Fireball as seen over Central Michigan, last night
Date: 11/17/99 7:04:51 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: Rubie2zDay
To: BARDSQUILL
CC: Phikent

From: "Steve Wingate"
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 01:41:20 -0800
Subject: IUFO: Fireball over Central Michigan

-> IUFO Mailing List

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: PaulWillison@webtv.net (Paul Willison)
Date sent: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 21:18:22 -0500 (EST)
To: Skyopen@onelist.com
Subject: [SO] Fireball over Central Michigan

From: PaulWillison@webtv.net (Paul Willison)

Drving home tonight November 16 at about 7:00pm, I and several
other cars witnessed a spectacular fireball travers the sky from west to
east very slowly. I was traveling on U.S. 131 about 20 miles north of
Grand Rapids, Michigan. It took over 30 secods(by watch count) to
travel about 70% of the horizon.
It had a comet-like appearance, with an extremely bright central body
and a very long trailing tail. It was brilliant emerald green in color,
fading into white, and did begin to break up as it passed beyond the
eastern horizon and I lost sight of it.
The most impressive thing was the very slow, almost controlled
flight that did not teem to actually decrease in altitude. It really
seemed to travel nearly parallel to the ground, and actually appeared to
disapear over the eastern horizon without coming down.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subj: Nov.16th sighting
Date: 11/17/99 11:58:40 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: omegab@flash.net (Viola Garner)
Reply-to: omegab@flash.net
To: bardsquill@aol.com

I just read all the sightings of the "fireball" and was
amazed that none were reported from Houston area. At 5
o'clock I was headed into the orange glow of the setting
sun, when I saw what looked like a huge meteor outlined in
white against the sky. It was traveling very slow and
parallel to the ground. You could barely tell it was moving
at all. I pulled into a parking lot and continued watching
it for a total time about ten minutes before I lost it
behind structures and trees. Fifteen minutes later I was
heading north and looked to my west again and saw another
one, smaller and heading down at about a 25 degree angle.

Does it seem right that it would take two hours for this
thing to reach the midwest states? It would have to be
moving rather slow, wouldn't it? It sure seems to fit the
description though, about half the width of my thumb fully
extended in thickness.

Seems strange that all those people in all that rush hour
traffic failed to see the thing. At first I thought it was a
big plane in trouble, but the trail was much too big for a
plane to make...I would say at arms length it was about 1 to
1 1/2 inch long, following a thick bullet shaped front.

Hope this helps someone figure out what it was. BAck in 1987
I watched a gigantic rocket shaped thing with a fire trail
at the end outlining the back fins move slowly and silently
over me on a dark country road, north of Houston. The TV
stations reported later that it was a Russian satellite
re-entering the atmosphere, but I knew better from the shape
and size of it.

I don't believe anything our government tells the media.
----------------------------------------------------------------