American Meteor Society
Vaibhav Ravichandran was photographing a nighttime river scene from Rattlesnake Ridge Trail, near North Bend, Washington, USA, when this brilliant fireball happened to shoot through the frame. This fireball occurred on August 16, 2020, at 00:16 PDT (07:49 UT). Credit Vaibhav Ravichandran. More information on this event can be obtained from: https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/event/2020/4493 Note that this image is not intended to be used for accurate photometric assessment of meteor brightness.During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Saturday October 31st. At this time, the moon is located opposite the sun and lies above the horizon all night long. As this period progresses, the waning gibbous moon will rise later with each passing night, allowing a short period of dark sky between dusk and moon rise. The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 4 as seen from mid-northern latitudes and 3 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 11 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 7 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). The actual rates will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness, and experience in watching meteor activity. Note that the hourly rates listed below are estimates as viewed from dark sky sites away from urban light sources. Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity as only the brighter meteors will be visible from such locations. Meteor rates are reduced during this period due to moonlight.
The radiant (the area of the sky where meteors appear to shoot from) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning October 31/November 1. These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed coordinates may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases (available at science stores and planetariums) will provide maps with grid lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where these positions are located in the sky. A planisphere or computer planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky, either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at the radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant, so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies at the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to easily trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower member) or in another direction if it is sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located far below the horizon. The positions below are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier in the night while those listed further down the list rise later in the night.
Radiant Positions at 18:00 Local Standard Time
Radiant Positions at 23:00 Local Standard Time
Radiant Positions at 04:00 Local Standard Time
These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week.
Details on each source will continue next week when lunar conditions are more favorable.
| SHOWER | DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY | CELESTIAL POSITION | ENTRY VELOCITY | CULMINATION | HOURLY RATE | CLASS |
| RA (RA in Deg.) DEC | Km/Sec | Local StandardTime | North-South | |||
| Andromedids (AND) | Nov 06 | 01:06 (017) +27 | 19 | 22:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| Southern Taurids (STA) | Nov 03 | 03:14 (049) +13 | 27 | 00:00 | 2 – 2 | II |
| Northern Taurids (NTA) | Nov 12 | 03:26 (052) +22 | 27 | 00:00 | 1- <1 | II |
| omicron Eridanids (OER) | Nov 05 | 03:35 (051) -02 | 29 | 00:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| chi Taurids (CTA) | Nov 04 | 04:03 (061) +26 | 27 | 01:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| Orionids (ORI) | Oct 21 | 06:49 (102) +16 | 66 | 04:00 | 2 – 1 | I |
| nu Eridanids (NUE) | Sep 24 | 07:33 (113) +14 | 67 | 05:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| Leonids (LEO) | Nov 18 | 09:12 (138) +28 | 70 | 06:00 | <1 – <1 | I |
| kappa Ursae Majorids (KUM) | Nov 08 | 09:17 (139) +43 | 66 | 06:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| Leonis Minorids (LMI) | Oct 23 | 11:21 (170) +33 | 62 | 08:00 | <1 – <1 | II |
Live in gahanna ohio just seen at approximately 7:30 pm oct 31st a bright green light fly through the sky in south east area. Almost looked like a green firework fly thru. Just wondering what it might have been?
Jan and All,
We have received nearly 150 reports of this fireball. Check out: https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/event/2020/6173 Click on each name to read comments the witnesses may have written. You can add your observation by filling out our fireball form at: https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/event/2020/6173
In Owensboro at the same time (7:30 oct 31st) i saw the same thing but it was blue and went straight down . it appeared next to the moon (it was a blue moon) and disappeared half way down.
Saw a big green one tonight in Columbia TN looked just like a firework! Craziest thing I’ve ever seen!!
We saw this above Blowing Rock, NC around 7:35 PM on October 31,2020.
Long white line across the sky and then it turned a bright green before disappearing.
I do not know how to add this to the report link above.
We saw it above the dark mountain area called Johns River Gorge just beside Blowing Rock, NC. Thanks!
Saw green meteor shower on Halloween in the eastern sky..in Indianapolis Indiana
I was walking on milwaukie and holgate a couple days ago when this flash of white caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a rather-lengthy, streak of white light flashing across the SE side of milwaukie a6nd within a split second, it changed its color to bluish/green then suddenly vanished or dispersing as it crashed into our atmosphere..
Noticed a big orange ball of fire streaking across the southeastern sky in St Louis MO. it lasted about 4 seconds and then no more fire
Saw a small blue flash and the shooting in Newport Richey Florida. It’s my first. I’m mot sure if I’m wording it correctly
Walking in patk in Elm Grove. WI tonight and around 8:10sh pm saw very bright white/ a bit orange shooting type star low in western sky.
Today, Nov 6, 2020 at 6:26, I saw what I believe to be as a shooting star in Orlando, FL! I tried taking a video on my phone, but I didn’t do it justice. And I’m still not completely sure if it is truly one ♀️
Martha and All,
What you witnessed was a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral and not a fireball. The easiest way to tell them apart is that a fireball only lasts a few seconds while a rocket launch can last a minute or more as the rocket reaches orbit.
November 5, 2020 @ a little past 7:30 pm I witnessed a very pretty light moving gracefully across the south sky horizontally. It was like a point of light with an umbrella trail. not long, almost like delicate wings spread on two sides of a dark center. About 6 seconds from when i first caught a glimpse of it, the glow completely disappeared in a clear starry night.
Fire Island NY 11.5.2020 @7:33 pm.
Susan and All,
You too witnessed the same rocket launch was was mentioned by Martha in Orlando, Florida.
November 6, 2020, 7:30 pm. just saw a blazing yellow “shooting star” in the southwest sky, the largest one I have seen yet!
Nov. 6, 2020 @ 0510 saw a large green meteor going east to west. Biggest one I’ve ever seen!
Our family of three people saw an unmistakable flash of something meteors-like on Friday, November 6, 2020 at about 7:30 pm in the south to southwest skies of Goshen, IN, Elkhart County. We were out walking in our neighborhood and our eyes were adjusted to the relative dark of our small city. It lasted about 1 to 1.5 seconds, tracking from east to southwest at about 40 degrees elevation. The tail was short, but clear. It was quite bright. We heard no sound and saw no explosion. It was way too fast for any kind of airplane. We wondered if it was a piece of space junk. We have not heard any other reports of sightings.
Phil and All,
I looked at all the reports on the evening of November 6th and found nothing that matched your time and location. Therefore I cannot verify exactly what it was. Due to the short duration you reported, this object was most likely a a fireball, which is a meteor that is larger and brighter than normal.
Saw very bright white /yellow glow like a shooting star but it was super bright and low. Right above the barn and the glow seemed to last at least two seconds and it seems slower than most. Falling towards northwest
Saw very bright white /yellow glow like a shooting star but it was super bright and low. Right above the barn and the glow seemed to last at least two seconds and it seems slower than most. Falling towards northwest November 6,2020 around 730 pm palmyra indiana