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Hundreds Spot Fireballs In Colorado, Nearby States

pingpong writes "Hundreds of people in Colorado and 7 surrounding states have reported seeing "fireballs" in the night sky. They are described as being 10 to 15 times larger than a normal shooting star and bluish in color. Two people even claimed to see one land, but it has yet to be found. The Daily Camera is reporting it online here." Field reports invited.

7 of 487 comments (clear)

  1. Say what? [funny] by djupedal · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "None of the fireballs appear to have anything in common with each other."

    Other than:
    • When they arrived
    • Where they were seen
    • Why they were in this vicinity
    • Color
    • Speed
    • Size
    • Origin
    • Composition [Class III Fireball - Do not handle without proper training and protection. Consult your handbook.]
    Reach for the sky, hombre!
    1. Re:Say what? [funny] by Malcontent · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What I found interesting was that there was no attempt made to try and explain this phenomena. All then talk about is how rare it is and how they are unrelated. You'd think a scientist would exhibit at least some curiosity about the subject.

      --

      War is necrophilia.

    2. Re:Say what? [funny] by DustMagnet · · Score: 4, Insightful
      The article quotes:

      "It's quite astounding that we've seen two in two nights," said John Bally, an astrophysics professor at CU. "Sporadic fireballs are quite rare. Unless we're in a meteor storm, it's very uncommon."

      I guess the reporter figured that mentioning that it was the peak of Draconids would take some of the fun out of the story. The last paragraph left me thinking it was very uncommon, not that it was actually slightly unusual.

      --
      'SBEMAIL!' is better than a goat!!
  2. Re:It has to be... by ObitMan · · Score: 1, Insightful

    There is no George W jr.
    George H Bush is the Father
    George W Bush is the son. you have to have the same full name to be a jr.
    Appropiate slights on him are: Shrub and Dubya.
    I'm sure there are others.
    His alchoholic daughters are hot.
    I'd poke 'em.

    --
    Who run Barter Town?
  3. Re:Better story by Rogerborg · · Score: 2, Insightful

    With an interesting point: "Around 7:15 p.m., law-enforcement dispatchers began receiving reports from most corners of the state"

    Granted that these people probably had good intentions, but it does demonstrate how arrogant we are, assuming that anything so big and showy must be an event generated by or concerning humans. We cannot accept that the universe does plenty all by itself, and doesn't really care about whether we're watching or not.

    --
    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  4. Re:Witness by Gerry+Gleason · · Score: 3, Insightful
    It's interesting how different people react to a story like this. Some have to find or at least suggest what it is, others assume it must be something way out of the ordinary. Always more of a map of your own mind than anything 'out there'.

    You have to keep an open mind, or you are going to miss important phenomena. The brain/mind always tries to put perceptions into a category, and it is even hard to make accurate observations when you don't know what to expect, but expectation shape the observation. Just one of those strange loops that can't be eliminated completely.

  5. Re:I saw a bunch one night, 40 years ago by evilpenguin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Okay, I know spelling/grammar flaming isn't right, and this isn't anything personal (I make flagrant errors due to fast typing an no proofreading myself), but I am really beginning to be bugged by people mixing up "site" and "sight." A "site" is a place, a location. A "sight" is something to see, something seen or worth seeing. So you have a web "site" and a "sight" to see. This is not to mention the word "cite," which is a verb meaning "to refer to" or "to quote."

    Cite, site, sight.

    Sorry about that. Phew. Now, on topic:

    No LGMs? Any BEMs?