Saw a meteorite last night. Up close.

[zerosoma]

I'm driving home from church on a country road and all of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I see this bright luminescent object on my left and I turned my gaze towards it...

a falling star, a dying star, I don't know. But it fell (estimating) about 15 yards from where I was into the field. It was bright, large, and close, probably the size of a car tire. Green neon, was fizzling out as it fell, probably going 50 mph, and landed in the field. Reminded me of a gigantic roman candle or one of those fancy bottle rockets. It was definitely a star, meteorite, or whatever. I couldn't wrap my mind around what I just saw and I turned frantic saying "what what WHAT was that!!!?"

Anyways I did some research and saw that there was a meteor shower last night. I just didn't expect to find a meteorite falling just feet from me. I didn't hear a sonic boom or anything but I drive with my music loud so I may have missed it if there was one.

Anyone else see one of these before? Are they supposed to be green? Any ideas?

 

[Rand]

it wasnt a meteorite.

 

[The_Jeff]

I saw one on the way into work yesterday, 3 jan at 4:30 am. They've gotta be bright if you see 'em when driving.

However, I didn't find where it landed. Shame on you for not grabbing it or getting pics.

 

[Tempest]

Was there an unusually strong baby in it?

 

[apwillard1986]

They are worth money. You should have collected it.

 

[surfstar]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
...size of a car tire... probably going 50 mph...


Doesn't sound right. But if it was that big, its worth some $$$ and you'd have felt it probably.

 

[greystone]

By your description it sounds like it for sure was a star.

 

[Tosh]

Go find it! I would spend all day looking for it -- you might not ever need to work again...

 

[SLCraig]

I would be seriously trying to find that puppy.
Lets assume only you saw it up close. You have the best shot at finding it.

 

[volk06]

Most meteorites people see in the sky are smaller than a grain of sand. Of it was a meteorite, it would have been traveling way faster than 50mph. The reason they glow is due to the friction of air at the velocity.

 

[Malo83]

15 yards and the size of a tire, you wouldn't be here if that was a meteor

 

[dwcopple]

 

[zerosoma]

Seriously?! How much could I get for one?

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Tosh
Go find it! I would spend all day looking for it -- you might not ever need to work again...


^^Heck yeah!!

 

[JHZR2]

Why didn't you go find it???

 

[zerosoma]

I mean I could spend all day looking for it literally... I'm trying to re-trace my timeline to where I saw it and before what town etc.

I have to narrow it down to find it. Let's say it was the size I said it was, what are meteorites going for these days?

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Why didn't you go find it???


It was late last night, I wanted to get home, was more concerned a bout calling my wife to tell her, didn't think they were worth anything.

 

[LeakySeals]

Saw one Christmas day evening on the way home. Who hasn't seen one screaming by up above. But this was different. For the first time ever the same as you, all the way to impact. How far away it was I have no idea. But it was big, so I assume within a few miles. Maybe the curvature of the earth made it look like an impact. If it was that far away then it was gigantic, would have heard something on the news. I've never seen one go all the way down to the ground that big.

 

[Texan4Life]

yeah they are worth money, the bigger the better. some people make a living off finding them.

 

[Danno]

Big ones over a few lbs. go for thousands.