Ball of light at high velocity and frightning rate of descent.
While driving east down a side street, I noticed a falling ball of yellowish/white light arcing east over Billings with an estimated descent rate of 10,000 fps and a speed exceeding 1000mph. Estimated altitude upon initial contact was 8,000 AGL. The object was not an aircraft as it did not have anti collision lights and its rate of descent was frightning. The object was not a meteor as its parabolic trajectory was too steep to march the Earth's curvature. Contact was lost as the aircraft disappeared behind trees lining the street. I am a science teacher, pilot, and very familier with the physics of flight. What caught my attention was the high velocity and rate of descent which covered a 70 degree sky arc in approximately 7 seconds.
While driving east down a side street, I noticed a falling ball of yellowish/white light arcing east over Billings with an estimated descent rate of 10,000 fps and a speed exceeding 1000mph. Estimated altitude upon initial contact was 8,000 AGL. The object was not an aircraft as it did not have anti collision lights and its rate of descent was frightning. The object was not a meteor as its parabolic trajectory was too steep to march the Earth's curvature. Contact was lost as the aircraft disappeared behind trees lining the street. I am a science teacher, pilot, and very familier with the physics of flight. What caught my attention was the high velocity and rate of descent which covered a 70 degree sky arc in approximately 7 seconds.
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Billings
USA
7 seconds
7 seconds
45.79
-108.56
light
MT
Occurred : 12/19/2011 18:15 (Entered as : 12/19/2011 18:15) Reported: 12/20/2011 8:47:11 PM 20:47 Posted: 1/12/2012 Location: Billings, MT Shape: Light Duration: 7 seconds
Ball of light at high velocity and frightning rate of descent.