There were a few witness reports of a large fireball or shooting star in the sky near Merced County sometime this weekend, during the early morning hours. One of the sightings was reported on the Web site www.spaceweather.com.
I was alerted to the fireball sighting by an individual named Robert Ward, a Prescott, Ariz. resident who describes himself as a "meteor hunter" who's been chasing fireballs and things that fall from the heavens for more than 20 years. Check out his Web site at www.ironfromthesky.com
Ward said there have been more than a few sightings of the fireball in our area. I have always been facinated by astronomy and the stars. Unfortunately, like most people, I was sound asleep when this fireball supposedly appeared in the sky.
I contacted some folks with Sierra Remote Observatories on Sunday, hoping they may even have a few shots of the fireball, but they had no reports of anything unusual in the sky.
That doesn't mean, however, that it didn't happen. Ward said the fireball was reported around 2 a.m. Saturday.
I am hoping some of our readers saw this facinating ball of light. If so, please contact me at vpatton@mercedsun-star.com or call me at (209) 385-2431.
