2012-05-02 - Douglas (Isle of Man)(UK/England) - Fireball

Bright round orange/amber glowing object travelling SW at approx 7000ft over Douglas, Isle of Man

Number of witnesses: 1
Number of objects: 1
Shape: Circular [round]
Appearance: bright amber glowing ball like
Elevation: 35 to 40 degrees from horizon
Duration: visible for 20 seconds over 90 degree arc
Speed: approx. 350mph-400mph (calculated at 20 seconds over a 90 degree arc) Size: approx. 2m (based on later calculations)
Sound: none
Wind: NE, slight breeze
Cloud Base: 7000ft, broken cloud
Moon: light of moon visible through cloud

Wednesday 2nd May 2012, approx. 2200hrs, Douglas, Isle of Man, Great Britain. I just got into my parked car. A large bright round amber/orange light in the sky in front and to the left of me caught my attention. It travelled in a south-westerly direction at a steady speed and trajectory. It did not look like a plane or helicopter.

I couldn't work out what it was, so I opened my car window to check for sound. I could not detect any sound. The object passed directly across the base of a cloud that was backlit by the moon.

I searched closely to see whether there was some outline to the object apart from the light, but no other shape was observable apart from the round glowing light which was distinct and had a sort of substance to it. I was trying to figure out how large it was, and looking around for a comparable object I saw a planet showing large in a clear patch of sky a little behind me.

The object I observed was relatively at least 2 times larger, probably mo! re. Later calculations estimated the size of the object to be approx. 2m diameter (2min arc).

The object travelled in one direction with no alterations to trajectory. Visible for about 20 seconds before disappearing in a cloud ahead and to the right of me. The local Met Office advised that cloudbase was 7000ft at that particular night and the object was travelling directly below cloudbase and entering into cloud when I lost sight of it.