Middlebury - A quiet summer afternoon was shattered around 3:00 Monday, when a loud boom could be heard and felt for miles around.
"It was very loud," Bob Bergstrom said.
"It was impressive that the whole building shook," Netaka White said.
The loud boom was followed by the sound of people asking -- what was that?
Fire in the Sky
A very bright, loud meteor streaked over Custer County airspace early Monday morning. Two miners saw a large fireball light up the Squaw Creek drainage as bright as day, then break up into half a dozen smaller pieces and fizzle out.
The sonic boom woke sleepers and lit the skies from the Pahsimeroi, Challis and Clayton, to Stanley. The meteor was spotted from Pine and Featherville, to Boise and McCall.
The sonic boom woke sleepers and lit the skies from the Pahsimeroi, Challis and Clayton, to Stanley. The meteor was spotted from Pine and Featherville, to Boise and McCall.
It was a quiet Sunday night in Kovinna, Andiambalama. At 9.05 p.m., 24-year-old H.T. Nadeeshani was having a bath at the well in her garden when she noticed something unusual in the western sky. A bright light, almost as large as the full moon, appeared to be moving towards her in a wide arc. Alarmed by thoughts of terrorist air attacks, she called out to her neighbour, Mrs. Renuka Jayakody. Together they watched fearfully as the glowing object drew closer, landed on the Jayakodys' roof and vanished completely. A few minutes later the air vibrated with a loud explosion.
The next day they discovered that parts of the asbestos sheets on the roof were charred and cracked. A few pieces of rock and sand were scattered around the damaged area.
Similar incidents were reported around the country that night. Several people in areas such as Puttalam, Maho and Bingiriya also noted the appearance of the bright light in the sky as well as the loud explosion. "We thought it was another air attack or the beams from the airport," says K. Sarath, a trishaw driver in Kimbulapitiya who watched a flaming object land on a house and heard the booming sounds soon afterwards.
In Campbell Place, Dehiwala, the roofs of two buildings were damaged, and a loud noise was heard. "24 asbestos sheets were broken," says M.D. Sampath who works in one of the buildings, adding that there was no sign of what caused the damage.
The next day they discovered that parts of the asbestos sheets on the roof were charred and cracked. A few pieces of rock and sand were scattered around the damaged area.
Similar incidents were reported around the country that night. Several people in areas such as Puttalam, Maho and Bingiriya also noted the appearance of the bright light in the sky as well as the loud explosion. "We thought it was another air attack or the beams from the airport," says K. Sarath, a trishaw driver in Kimbulapitiya who watched a flaming object land on a house and heard the booming sounds soon afterwards.
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| Prasanna Jayakody shows the damaged roof. |
In Campbell Place, Dehiwala, the roofs of two buildings were damaged, and a loud noise was heard. "24 asbestos sheets were broken," says M.D. Sampath who works in one of the buildings, adding that there was no sign of what caused the damage.
Did you think you were wishing upon a falling star Wednesday night? Sorry, it was just burning space debris.
What many people saw was the beginning of a minor meteor shower, named after the constellation Bootes, according to Ron DiIulio, director of the University of North Texas' astronomy lab program.
What's causing this meteor shower? The Earth is passing through the tail of a comet.
What many people saw was the beginning of a minor meteor shower, named after the constellation Bootes, according to Ron DiIulio, director of the University of North Texas' astronomy lab program.
What's causing this meteor shower? The Earth is passing through the tail of a comet.
COLOMBO: The object which spewed a blinding light that lit the night skies in several areas of the North Western Province on Sunday is suspected to be meteor.
The light was accompanied by huge booming sounds.
The light was accompanied by huge booming sounds.
A tense situation was created in some areas in the Gampaha and Kurunegala districts last night following a mysterious noise similar to an explosion.
However later it was revealed that the noise and the light could be from a falling meteorite of some magnitude. The Arthur C. Clark Center also claimed that the sound may have been caused by a meteorite explosion.
However later it was revealed that the noise and the light could be from a falling meteorite of some magnitude. The Arthur C. Clark Center also claimed that the sound may have been caused by a meteorite explosion.
A Territorian could not believe his eyes when he saw a strange object beaming in the night sky.
John Ganter, 49, said he saw a bright green ball with two flaming tails flash across the sky.
''It looked like a comet, but with two tails,'' he said.
''It was quite a sight.
''I have never seen anything like it, just burning up in the sky.''
Mr Ganter was walking near Darwin's Nightcliff jetty about 8.30pm on Friday when he saw the unidentified flying object, which was visible for a couple of seconds.
John Ganter, 49, said he saw a bright green ball with two flaming tails flash across the sky.
''It looked like a comet, but with two tails,'' he said.
''It was quite a sight.
''I have never seen anything like it, just burning up in the sky.''
Mr Ganter was walking near Darwin's Nightcliff jetty about 8.30pm on Friday when he saw the unidentified flying object, which was visible for a couple of seconds.
Whatever their theory, Picton residents have been noticing strange lights in the sky in recent weeks, with people reporting spectacular, multicoloured lights dancing above the horizon to the west.
The phenomenon has a scientific explanation that's a little more mundane, said David Turner, a local member of the Royal Astronomical Society.
"It's the planet Venus," he said.
The phenomenon has a scientific explanation that's a little more mundane, said David Turner, a local member of the Royal Astronomical Society.
"It's the planet Venus," he said.
The fireball that passed over Edmonton Friday night may have left more behind than experts originally thought.
"There's a good chance meteorites might have fallen," the University of Calgary's Dr. Alan Hildebrand told Sun Media.
Witnesses in Edmonton reported red fragments continuing toward the earth after the intense light of the meteor subsided.
"There's a good chance meteorites might have fallen," the University of Calgary's Dr. Alan Hildebrand told Sun Media.
Witnesses in Edmonton reported red fragments continuing toward the earth after the intense light of the meteor subsided.
A mundane act became extraordinary event for Evelyn Bolton yesterday.
Around 1 a.m., Bolton and her daughter were taking the garbage out at their northside home when they saw an intense light appear and then disappear in the night sky.
"Our eyes hurt from the light," she told Sun Media, describing the one-minute blinding flash.
Though she found the event "freaky," Bolton didn't believe she witnessed a UFO.
But what she did see - a large glowing meteor - was rare, says University of Calgary geology professor Alan Hildebrand, co-ordinator of the Canadian Fireball Reporting Centre.
Around 1 a.m., Bolton and her daughter were taking the garbage out at their northside home when they saw an intense light appear and then disappear in the night sky.
"Our eyes hurt from the light," she told Sun Media, describing the one-minute blinding flash.
Though she found the event "freaky," Bolton didn't believe she witnessed a UFO.
But what she did see - a large glowing meteor - was rare, says University of Calgary geology professor Alan Hildebrand, co-ordinator of the Canadian Fireball Reporting Centre.
Comment: "rare"?? "once in a lifetime"?? What planet is the Canada Research Chair in Planetary Science actually living on? Someone needs to send him a link to the Signs page so he can peruse the awesome number of fireballs and meteorites that have been peppering the skies of planet earth over the past few years.
Comment: If hearing the sonic boom from the check flight is unusual, then maybe another explanation is in order?
From Cassiopedia, Sonic boom: