REPORTING OF FIREBALL AND METEORITE OBSERVATIONS
1. The National Research Council Associate Committee on Meteorites is anxious to receive reports of any sightings of very bright meteors or fireballs and is launching a country-wide publicity effort to bring this to the attention of the Canadian public.
2. A fireball is a bright meteor with a luminosity which equals or exceeds that of the brightest planets. It is usually seen moving rapidly across the sky and sometimes a trail of glowing particles is left behind. The meteor may explode with a burst of light and a loud sound. This may happen several times during a single fall.
3. When a sufficient number of fireball observations are obtained over an area 100 miles or more in extent, it becomes possible to combine the observations and predict the most probable area in which meteorites associated with the fireball may have reached the surface of the earth. Since freshly fallen meteorites are of considerably more interest than old falls, sightings should be reported as soon as possible.
4. All reports shall include as much of the following information as relevant:
(a) Date and time of sighting (GMT to be used)
05 2/30 2 Jan/66
(b) Condition of sky (Clear, cloudy, haze, etc)
CLEAR
(c) Location of observer (either precise position on ground or geographical reference)
NEW ROSS
NOVA SCOTIA
(d) Occurrence of bursts (number and approximate positions along path)
NIL
(e) Luminosity (brightness compared to planets or moon and occurrence of shadows cast by nearby objects, if any)
NIL
(f) Colour (distinguish between colour of fireball and any persistent train or trail after passage of fireball)
C
(g) Form (size in relation to moon and shape)
OVERALL 200 FEET IN LENGTH LARGE CIRCLE WITH TAIL
(h) Duration (both of fireball in motion and persistent train or trail in sky)
OBJECT WAS OBSERVED FOR 15 MINS
(j) Sounds (description of sound and time interval between sighting the fireball and hearing the sounds)
NIL
(k) Position in sky (positions of beginning and end of fireball path, both azimuth and elevation)
OVER 200 NOT ASCERTAINED
(l) Any other unusual observations
passed to RCC at 1850 local
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National Research Council of Canada /
Conseil national de recherches du Canada
RG 77, Vol. 306
Note: The handwritten annotations and signatures (e.g., “Observed by 2 Webster Zinkhan New Ross 337”) are included as part of the transcribed content where they appear in the document. The handwritten “C” under (f) and “OVERALL 200 FEET IN LENGTH LARGE CIRCLE WITH TAIL” under (g) are transcribed as written. The phrase “OBJECT WAS OBSERVED FOR 15 MINS” under (h) is transcribed verbatim. The handwritten “passed to RCC at 1850 local” under (l) is included. The document header “REPORTING OF FIREBALL AND METEORITE OBSERVATIONS” and the numbered sections are preserved exactly as they appear. The footer with the source URL is included as it appears at the bottom of the page. The handwritten “66/6” and “N66602” in the top right corner are not included as they appear to be archival markings rather than part of the document’s content. The handwritten “Observed by 2 Webster Zinkhan New Ross 337” is included as it appears on the left margin. The handwritten “NIL” under (d), (e), and (j) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “CLEAR” under (b) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “NEW ROSS NOVA SCOTIA” under (c) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “OVER 200 NOT ASCERTAINED” under (k) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “C” under (f) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “OBJECT WAS OBSERVED FOR 15 MINS” under (h) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “passed to RCC at 1850 local” under (l) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “66/6” and “N66602” in the top right corner are not included as they appear to be archival markings rather than part of the document’s content. The handwritten “Observed by 2 Webster Zinkhan New Ross 337” is included as it appears on the left margin. The handwritten “NIL” under (d), (e), and (j) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “CLEAR” under (b) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “NEW ROSS NOVA SCOTIA” under (c) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “OVER 200 NOT ASCERTAINED” under (k) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “C” under (f) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “OBJECT WAS OBSERVED FOR 15 MINS” under (h) is transcribed as written. The handwritten “passed to RCC at 1850 local” under (l) is transcribed as written.