siberian-fireball

Screenshots extracted from two videos of the fireball that was observed over South-Western Siberia on December 6th, 2016.

A space rock about 10-15 m diameter entered the atmosphere above South-Western Siberia, on December 6, 2016, around 18h 35mn (local time, equivalent to 11h 35 mn UT). The associated fireball was widely observed, especially in Kakhassia and South of Krasnoyarsk republics, where people reporting it said the event turned up the night sky as if it was the day during 3 to 4 seconds, despite the layer of fog and clouds.

Below is a compilation of the some videos of the event (be aware that last sequence of the video is not the Dec 6, 2016 fireball, but the MS-04 Soyuz reentry after launch failure, which occured on Dec 1, 2016)

Witnesses also reported the meteor sighting was followed, tens of seconds later, by a loud sonic boom which triggered car alarms in the town of Sayanogorsk, from where the fireball seems to have been the most impressive, and where most video footage (recorded by video surveillance or embarked camera) are issued. These recordings show the impressive sky enlightment and the fast moving meteor emitting light through the layer of fog that covered the region at that time.

Screenshots sequence extracted from a video of the fireball recorded from Sayanogorsk, showing sky enlightenment and the fireball itself.

Screenshots sequence extracted from a video of the fireball recorded from Sayanogorsk, showing sky enlightnment and the fireball itself.

Seen the importance of the event, some meteorites may have survived the atmospheric entry: video records and witness reports may help defining the orbit to try to locate as precisely as possible the theoritical landing area. If you witnessed the fireball, or recorded it, do not hesitate to share your observation or recordings on the Fireball Report Form.

4 comments

    • Karl Antier

      Thanks for the link on the good TV report, David!

      It’s the editorial team providing the video, not only me 😉 ; even if there’s just one name at the end of the post, which is generally the name of the person who started to redact the article, every material composing it is a mix of pictures and videos all the editorial team has been gleaning all over the web, or which were sent to us! Team work!

      About it, it seems the last video sequence do not fit the fireball characteristics we see on all the others video footages. The fireball last much longer, moves slower, and the light flares are not as bright, and do not seem to fit the other videos. So whether it’s a slow motion movie, or it’s not the Dec. 6, 2016, ~11h 35mn UT Siberian fireball.

      Reply to Karl Antier
      • Yes, I agree about the last clip in the IMO video — it’s not a (typical) meteoric fireball: Fast, Furious, and Fiery as the sun, and most often with that explosive flare mid-flight. And fully distinguishable from “space junk reentry” or from UFOs/OVNIs or from terrestrial aircraft. The intensity “changing night into day” that lit up the sky and the buildings & streets all around is quite absent from the final segment. All the best to you in your good work, Karl.

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