A big ol’ fireball hurtled through the air sometime between 8:20pm and 8:30pm this evening, Morgan McLeod reports. It sounds crazy, but Morgan also reported last year’s fireballs, not to be confused with the 2001 fireball that turned out to be a Russian rocket falling to the ground.
Did anybody else spot this? It’ll be interesting to figure out if this was a meteor, space junk, or what.
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on four six and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #
Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
Archive for Sideblog »
Let’s consider this somewhat of a test post since this is the first time I’ve been able to log in since before last Halloween (not that I’ve been trying all that hard.) As I said to Waldo, I was facing into two streetlights when I saw it to the east so either A) that sucker was bright, or B) it was something else entirely.
cheers
-M
I saw it too. Looking from around the end of Locust Ave it was toward Rivanna River. My wife and I were getting into the car. She didn’t notice it, but I said to her… “What the…. did you see that? It was either a firework, a meteor, or a shooting star.”
It was yellow in color, and kind of big (bigger than a shooting star would look). I kind of saw it out of the corner of my eye, and it was through some trees. My impression was that it was some kind of firework or flare.
I would have forgotten about it, but then I popped on here to get my weekly dose of cville news only to see there was an entry about it. Weird.
A New Jersey blogger reports seeing it at 8:45pm, but that’s the only other reference that I can find. Assuming it’s the same thing, I imagine we’ll have some press coverage on Friday. (It always takes a couple of days for media outlets to comprehend the existence of fireballs, minor earthquakes, and tornadoes.)
For those — like me — who missed it, check out this great footage of just such a fireball streaking across the skies of Mexico five days ago.
I think we’re missing the essence of this story. The headline shouldn’t be “Fireball over Cville,” it should be “Morgan McLeod Target of Alien Fireball Conspiracy.”
Yes, I saw it too. Standing on my deck about 3 miles down Stony Point Road facing South East….it was off to the left. Can’t remember what time it was…but 8 or 8:30 sound right. Came down slow like a flare. Nothing like any shooting star I’ve ever seen.
The AMS encourages citizens to report fireball sightings.
“krasota Says: The AMS encourages citizens to report fireball sightings.”
Done! Included cvillenews.com in the remarks. They say it will take some time before it shows up on their log.
-M
Does anyone want to help the mainstream media pick it up on Thursday instead of Friday. Just about to head into the station and saw this thread. Pretty interesting. I don’t suppose anyone has pictures or video. Please e-mail me if you saw this fireball: pmerrill@nbc29.com. Thanks!
Should be a question mark after that first sentence. Sorry.
Not meteor, shooting star, or anything of that nature.
That was just George Allen’s Presidential abmitions, going down in flames.
[…] The village itself is depressing enough. Gay bashing, mump plagues, KKK-ish/religion denying/macaca-calling local politicians, and people claiming fireballs shoot through the local skies…all in a village of 40,000. I guess these are just things that happen in the number one city in America. So Very Virginia. […]
Begin forwarded message:
From: “Robert Lunsford”
Date: September 29, 2006 2:55:30 PM EDT
To: Morgan McLeod
Subject: Re: AMS Fireball Report
Congratulations on your rare fireball sighting! We appreciate
you taking the time to report this object to the American
Meteor Society. Your summarized report may now be
viewed on the AMS webpage at:
http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/fireball_log2006.html
Your event is #314a for 2006. So far there are 2 other reports
of this same object. Please check the table again in a few days
to see if any other witnesses of your event have been posted.
Clear Skies,
Robert Lunsford
American Meteor Society
Sorry, folks. This was my fault and I apologize. I was looking up at the sky and I let my mind wander, forgot my self-control and once again unleashed a ball of flames from my eyes.
I realize that I need to be more careful with this gift or curse, depending on how you look at it. It is true that I’ve gone about a year since the last incident and have really gotten better with my focus generally. But I admit that there is no excuse for even an occasional lapse, which could have proven fatal had I been looking at or below the horizon.
In the future I pledge only to use my powers for the forces of good.