Abstract
Brilliant Detonating Fireball on July 28.—This object made its appearance at 2 A.M. (summer time) on July 28 and was noticed by a number of observers who happened to be out of doors or looking from windows at the time. The object passed from over the sea north-north-west of Cornwall in a direction to south-south-east, and appears to have descended into the sea near Falmouth. Several observers describe the fireball as leaving a long, glittering train of sparks in its wake and as giving a loud detonation, which reached them soon after the light vanished. Some observers who did not see the actual Flight of the object across the heavens thought the sudden illumination and thunder-like noise were due to an electrical storm; others thought an earthquake had occurred, for buildings in Falmouth were shaken and many people were awakened. The body of the fireball was of sensible size and seemed to one observer to have a diameter about twice as large as that of the sun. The whole countryside was lit up for two or three seconds and the full moon was paled into insignificance. The object must have penetrated to within a few miles of the earths surface, for a few of the observers saw it apparently fall into the sea. Quite possibly it descended a little to the south-east of Falmouth, but further observations are required before the exact path can be ascertained.
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Our Astronomical Column. Nature 124, 244 (1929). https://doi.org/10.1038/124244a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/124244a0