Comments on: Boulder fireball

By: Hal

Hal — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:48:44 +0000

Sounds like these bolides must happen a lot in Colorado.. On Nov 28 at about 9:45pm, I was driving south on I-225 near where it bends to the west, and witnessed a streaking fireball – it went from left to right in front of me, on an almost-horizontal path that took it directly over the highway. I could see the flames flying behind the thing, like the coma of a comet, as it streaked across the sky. (Been looking for news about this ever since – *someone* else *has* to have seen this thing!!)

By: Carl Drews

Carl Drews — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:12:47 +0000

I saw a shooting star near Boulder on Monday evening, November 19, 2007 at 5:58pm. I was riding my bike home in the dark from Boulder to my house in Gunbarrel. As I rode along Spine Road right next to the Diagonal, I noticed a white light passing overhead that I thought was an airplane. “That’s kind of low, I thought.” I looked up at the light, and saw that it was flaring and releasing little sparks behind it. The light was almost directly overhead (just a bit forward of my position), and traveling toward the northwest.

The light was definitely a flaring streak of flame, not a single point like you sometimes see in meteors. After a few more moments of me watching it, the light flared yellow and then went out completely. I remember thinking that it might have landed in the foothills near the Greenbriar restaurant and Fourmile Canyon. I stopped riding and checked my watch to get the exact time. I didn’t hear any sound except for rush-hour traffic on the Diagonal.

It sounds like another bolide.

By: Lurchgs

Lurchgs — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:42:23 +0000

I say it was one of two things:

1) The last vestiges of common sense fleeing boulder in flaming tatters

2) Mycroft checking his aim (Cheyenne Mtn IS just a few miles to the south)

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:34:19 +0000

Actually, having grown up in Boulder (I even took piano lessons across from the “Mork and Mindy House”), I know that meteor activity is really quite common.

Now, what was REALLY COOL in Denver / Boulder happened yesterday morning at 5:47AM…

We had an absolutely beautiful view of the International Space Station, with the Space Shuttle in trail behind it, orbiting from roughly southwest to northeast. Because the sun was just coming up when they passed, both were very (unusually) brightly light and easily seen with the naked eye. Friends tell me you could easily make out details with any decent telescope.

It was well worth the 5 minutes standing barefoot on the driveway in 20 degree weather with the kids to see them pass directly over our house.

I’m actually kinda surprised that BA didn’t mention this one.

By: Quiet Desperation

Quiet Desperation — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:14:40 +0000

> “So just what is your CEP at Boulder range?”

From a 1000 miles away, about 1000 miles.

By: TSFrost

TSFrost — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:21:39 +0000

[i] Iâ€™m doing my part. Are you?

Iâ€™m from Buenos Aires. I say, kill them all![/i]

My favorite is, “C’mon you apes! Do you want to live forever?” I use that a lot day to day.

By: drbuzz0

drbuzz0 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:58:43 +0000

Dr. Plait;

We appreciate your enthusiasm in reporting this event, however it will be necessary for you to take down this article immediately or you will suffer a very swift yet painful death.

We have investigated this report thoroughly and it appears that you were making a simple yet understandable mistake. The object in question was a weather balloon. We have established this beyond doubt and consider the incident closed. Please consider it also closed as we do know were you and your family live.

Do not mention this to anyone ever and if they bring it up act as if you do not know what they are talking about. If they persist you may say “Oh yes that. It was a weather balloon. I did not remember that because it was of such little consequence to anyone’s life or to national security that it hardly seemed like it was worth taking note of.”

- THE GOVERNMENT